MATCH REPORT:  ST MIRREN  1  CELTIC  3

PRE-MATCH COMMENT: 

Our last game at St Mirren Park and with a depleted squad.......it will not be easy.

BORUC ….……....5 Does he fill you with confidence at the moment? NO!  Does he appear to be a little tubby? YES!  Should have been sent off for a ridiculous challenge.

HINKEL...... …….. 7 MOM When it comes to an attacking wing back I think he is of high quality as he showed to-day with some great surging runs. What a great cross for the opening goal. His defensive qualities are still suspect.

LOOVENS....…. .5 To date his benefit to Celtic has been more his ability to score goals with his head than any sterling defensive work but to-day he spurned the easiest of chances to score the first goal after Robson had placed the ball on his from a free kick but, unchallenged, he missed the target.

McMANUS…. … 6 Found it hard going at times against two lively St Mirren forwards but he made a couple of his last ditch tackles which have become his trademark.

WILSON.... …… 4 He was playing at left back but it was down that flank that St Mirren made most of their early chances. Moved into midfield when replacing Caldwell. 

CALDWELL.…. .5 Was not as impressive as his debut a few weeks ago playing in a midfield role but did manage to make a few telling passes.

NAKA........ …… 7  At half time I was thinking "Naka, you're not in the team to win tackles or headers (he wasn't doing these anyway), you're in the team to produce some moments of magic (which he hadn't)" but then in the second half he did just that with scoring a sublime goal.

ROBSON..…. ……5 Played out on the left and contributed very little

BROWN…..….....6  Never gave up and harried away, had a good shot on goal but not at his very best.

SAMARAS .........6  Needed this game in his battle to reach full fitness and for long periods of the game he was pretty inefective but then his goal and his wonderful contribution to Naka's goal gives us great hope for the Aalborg game.

McDONALD..... 6   Didn't score but again showed an improvement in his link up play and was involved at the very start for the build up for the first goal then laid Sheridan's goal on a plate for him.



SUBS 

MALONEY........…… 5 His coming on changed the game.

SHERIDAN………....6 All of this exposure will be so important to his development and he was in the right place to score a goal.

NAYLOR..…………. 5 Thought he was at fault for their goal but he obviously enjoyed being on the park again.



REF…………...... (Collum) 7 Don't think he was at fault re. Boruc as I do not know what his position was but overall he controlled the game well.

THE GAME ……6 Celtic did not play well for about 60 mins of the game but the day was lit up by the quality of the goals.

GOALS ………. 1.Maloney, who had only just come on, sends a good crossfield pass into Hinkel's path. Hinkel charges forward and releases a great low cross into the danger area where it is met by Samaras who has made a great run into the box.

2. An eleven man move in which involves Samaras making an ezquisite 'lob wedge' pass right into Naka's path who side stepped his marker and then placed a shot into the net. Another great Naka goal.

3. Naka has a shot but is deflected and McDonald is onto it like a flash and manages to get the ball to Sheridan who blasts it into the net.

4. An impressive run by the St Mirren left back Miranda (he might just be the player we are looking for) and a great cross saw Hamilton outmuscle Naylor.



COMMENTS ….. 1. The big game on Tuesday will require a better level of passing but with Sammy and Naka on song that long awaited victory should be delivered.

C'mon Man U.