22 August 2010, Celtic 4 - 0 St Mirren | Report | Match

by Colin Orr at Celtic Park

DANNY Lennon's new-look St Mirren side were taught a harsh lesson in the standards of Scotland's elite today as Celtic romped to a 4-0 victory at Parkhead.

It's sad to say, but the biggest plus point for Saints in this defeat was that the margin of victory stayed at four and didn't reach a spirit-crushing six or seven.

The home side struck the post three times during a one-sided first-half which started badly for Saints then just got worse.

Rule one of playing the Old Firm has to be to not concede an early goal, which is why Danny Lennon will have been dismayed to see his plans go up in smoke when Joe Ledley put Celtic in front after six minutes.

Saints briefly came into the game and could have made a more even fight of it had Shaun Maloney's 23rd minute goal not turned proceedings in to a procession.

The Buddies were lucky to only be two down at the break and the second-half became more damage limitation than anything else, although James Forrest and Ki Sung Yeung struck to boost Celtic's goal difference.

To be fair to Danny Lennon's men, Celtic were very good today, and there will be other chances to take points in this year's league. This one can be filed under lessons learned.

St Mirren came into the game with something of a striker shortage. Craig Dargo recovered from injury to start on his own up front, but Gareth Wardlaw failed to recover from a groin strain.

The injured Steven Thomson and the ineligible Paul McGowan dropped out, with fit-again Lee Mair and Garry Brady coming in, leaving Saints with a very youthful-looking bench.

And what already looked like an uphill task for Saints became even steeper when Celtic carved out an opener after just six minutes.

Youngster Forrest burst up the left and cut the ball back for Georgios Samaras, who slotted it through for the onrushing Ledley to stab past Paul Gallacher from eight yards out.

It could have been two before the quarter-hour but Marc-Antoine Fortune flashed his shot into the side-netting after an incisive ball from Samaras.

Celtic keeper Lukasz Zaluska beats Darren McGregor to the ball. (v Celtic - Celtic Park - 22-08-2010 - photographer: Allan Picken)

St Mirren were struggling to get out their own half but a rare break forward saw Brady's superb pass slice Celtic open, only for Lukasz Zaluska to save at the feet of Darren McGregor.

But this was a brief moment of respite, as the Celtic response was a stinging shot from 15 yards out from Shaun Maloney which came off the junction of bar and post.

And the second goal was only 90 seconds away as Saints were brutally exposed by the slick movement and passing of their opponents.

Scott Brown's pass sent Fortune in behind Jure Travner and his ball across the six-yard line wasn't cut out by the Saints defence, allowing Maloney to squeeze his finish inside the back post.

It could have been three soon after but Samaras opted to over-elaborate after Maloney's clever pass again cut Saints open, before Fortune's driven ball across the goal-mouth found no takers.

Saints were then saved by the post twice in quick succession, with Maloney's 20-yard shot evading Gallacher but not the woodwork, before Fortune drove his follow-up off the same upright.

The half-time whistle brought the sanctuary of the dressing room for a Saints side looking ragged and fortunate not to be further behind.

Half-Time: Celtic 2-0 St Mirren

Saints made a change at the break, with Marc McAusland coming on for the first appearance of his second spell at the Club in place of David van Zanten

But the game continued to be one-way traffic, with Gallacher saving a low drive from Brown, then holding Majstorovic's header from the resultant corner.

The Saints keeper then tipped a shot from Samaras round the post as Celtic continued to slice their way through the visiting defence.

Fortune waltzed his way past several challenges and drove his shot wide, before towering stopper Jos Hooiveld glanced a header across the face of goal.

But just as Saints appeared to have established a foothold in the game and settled the pace down, Celtic struck to make it three on 70 minutes.

Sean Lynch cheaply conceded possession on the right flank, Celtic worked it across the field, and Fortune played in Forrest, who crashed a shot past Gallacher and into the roof of the net.

With the game now well and truly over, Danny Lennon handed a debut to youngster Graeme Ramage, who was given the last 13 minutes in place of Steven Robb.

But Celtic added a spectacular fourth soon after. Paddy McCourt teed up fellow sub Ki 25 yards out and the Korean international sent a searing drive into the roof of the net.

Full-Time: Celtic 4-0 St Mirren

Celtic: Zaluska, Juarez, Hooiveld, Majstorovic, Ledley, Kayal (Ki 71), Brown, Forrest, Fortune (Murphy 75), Maloney, Samaras (McCourt 65).
Subs Not Used: Twardzik, Towell, Misun, Cervi (GK).

St Mirren: Gallacher, van Zanten (McAusland 46), Travner, McGregor, Potter, Murray, Mair, Robb (Ramage 77), Brady (McKernon 73), Lynch, Dargo.
Subs Not Used: Love, McLean, McLennan, Samson (GK).

Referee: Euan Norris.

Assistant Referee: Brian McGarry
Assistant Referee: Billy Baxter
4th Official: Crawford Allan

Star Saint: The margin of victory could have been greater had Paul Gallacher not made several smart saves after the break.

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