St Mirren Hold Celtic to Goalless First Half Thriller
Well, what a fascinating first half we’ve witnessed here at the SMISA Stadium as St Mirren and Celtic battle it out in the Scottish Premiership. The teams went into the break locked at 0-0, but make no mistake, this has been anything but uneventful. St Mirren have really shown a level of intensity and commitment that could make them proud in next month’s League Cup final, while Celtic have struggled to find their rhythm so far.
From the start, St Mirren pressed hard, making 14 touches inside the Celtic box compared to just nine from the visitors. Conor McMenamin even came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock with a stunning effort from 20 yards that rattled the woodwork. Meanwhile, Mikael Mandron had two shots blocked by a resolute Celtic defense, and Miguel Freckleton’s rebound attempt sailed over the crossbar. It was clear that the home side were the more threatening team in front of goal during the opening 45 minutes.
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Celtic, on the other hand, have dominated possession, holding 72.5% of the ball, but their attacking play has been frustratingly ineffective. Only three shots were registered by the Hoops, none on target, and their passing in the final third hasn’t yet translated into clear-cut chances. Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan noted on BBC Sportsound that the team simply hasn’t worked St Mirren out yet, and it certainly shows. Even a brief penalty appeal for St Mirren went unheeded after replays showed there was nothing in it.
The intensity of the game has been highlighted by a couple of yellow cards, with St Mirren’s Fraser booked in the 19th minute and Celtic’s Tounekti following in the 41st. St Mirren’s energy, combined with their tactical discipline, has kept Celtic under pressure, with the visitors’ usually reliable attacking options unable to break through. Both teams have had their moments, but the goalkeepers have barely been tested, reflecting the tight nature of this clash.
Statistically, St Mirren have been impressive in aerial duels, winning eight compared to Celtic’s four, and they have completed a higher percentage of tackles as well. Celtic have relied heavily on passing, with an 89.5% accuracy rate, but it hasn’t yet led to a goal threat. This match is proving to be a real test for both sides — St Mirren aiming for a rare victory over a top side and Celtic looking to close the gap on Hearts in the table.
As we await the second half, the question remains: can St Mirren maintain this high intensity for the full 90 minutes, or will Celtic finally find their breakthrough? One thing is for sure, this first half has already been a compelling story of determination, strategy, and the unpredictability of Scottish football. It’s all set for an exciting second act.
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