The skipper found the net in injury time to secure a last-gasp 1-0 winner Celtic fans were left fuming after the aborted AGM but Callum McGregor lifted the mood with an incredible last-gasp 25-yard screamer to avoid more anger in Paisley. The skipper let rip in the 94th minute to snatch three priceless Premiership points to cut the gap on Hearts at the top to just four points. But it was brutal on St Mirren who deserved far more. Stephen Robinson’s men showed no fear and had the better chances including a disallowed goal going into the late stages. Celtic failed to manage a single shot on target in the 90 minutes. But McGregor grabbed the clash by the scruff of the neck when he unleashed into the top corner from outside the box to get his side right out of jail. Stand-in boss Martin O’Neill celebrated on the sidelines but he would not have been fooled. Celts toiled for long spells and were fortunate to escape more fan ire at the end. The under-fire Hoops board copped it throughout in the back of the wild AGM on Friday and it would have been way worse if McGregor hadn’t dragged his side out of the fire. Saints were left cursing a couple of fluffed gilt-edged chances in the first half with Conor McMenamin inches away from burying Declan John’s low cross and then hitting the post with a stinger. Miguel Freckleton missed another big opportunity as Celts struggled to make any inroads. The Buddies thought they had a winner when Liam Scales prodded into his own net but offside McMenamin was deemed to be in the way. They looked like a point was in the bag only for McGregor to spark wild celebrations right at the death. Hampden impress rehearsal These two will meet again in the Premier Sports Cup Final on December 14. Both men in charge will say this league clash will have no bearing on Hampden but don’t buy it. Saints can take a heck of a lot of encouragement to the National Stadium and they should really fancy their chances against a bang average Celts side. They will still be big underdogs but the Buddies are the last side Celtic will want to play for silverware. The Hoops were woeful for long spells here while the wide open spaces on the Hampden pitch will probably help, there will be enough seeds of doubt sewn by Stephen Robinson’s men. Celts might have got this one done eventually but the final will be far from a formality. The great divide The joy at the winner doesn’t mask the anger in the stands. It doesn’t look like peace is going to break out any time soon between Celtic fans and the club’s board. There were red cards held up in the away end before kick-off and Dermot Desmond might have felt his ears burning with some of the chants. Friday’s AGM has only fanned the flames especially Desmond’s son Ross’s family statement that caused the rammy that brought the meeting to a halt. The major shareholder copped it from the stands, there were chants of Sack the Board belted and the usual anti-board banners unfurled. Desperate performances like this adds to the anger and quite how Celtic get the punters back onside is anyone’s guess, but it looks a long way off right now. Managing expectations O’Neill admitted after the AGM he was slightly surprised to still be in the hot seat after the international break. The question now is for how much longer? Celtic are understood to be close to appointing Wilfried Nancy and it’s clear the Hoops squad could do with some clarity. It’s going to be a huge task for any gaffer coming in at such a toxic time around the club. But there’s also the tricky matter of the best opportunity to get started. Celts are on the plane on Wednesday for the Europa League clash with Feyenoord and it’s straight back and on to Hibs on Sunday. The new man won’t get much if any time to get his feet under the desk, so O’Neill might be needed for a little longer. Forward thinking O’Neill could have done with chucking Ross Desmond a pair of boots and playing him up front. At last Dermot’s lad knows who to go on the attack unlike the rest of the Hoops. The interim boss got the side scoring in his first couple of games in charge but the team slipped back into its old toothless routine in Paisley. Johnny Kenny was hooked at half-time but it wasn’t all on him as the supply was non-existent all night. Yang getting the nod ahead of £5m Michel-Ange Balikwisha from the bench was telling too. Celts were blunt here but got out of jail. Saints alive It’s a bit of a mystery seeing this Saints side lingering in the bottom half of the table. Robbo’s men have been pretty consistent this season but they’ve not picked up the points their performances have probably deserved. If there’s one thing that’s cost them is a lack of a cutting edge in the final third. It was similar against Celts. Saints should have been two up by half-time as they had the Hoops on the ropes. The Buddies are not far away but they need to be more lethal when it comes to finding the net.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/callum-mcgregor-shifts-celtic-mood-36291055
Callum McGregor shifts Celtic mood with injury time magic to break battling St Mirren – 5 talking points
