CELTIC 1 ST MIRREN 0
VALIANT Celtic refused to accept anything other than victory against St Mirren in the Premiership opener at Parkhead this afternoon.
Callum McGregor had what looked like a perfectly legitimate goal wiped out while Benjamin Nygren, Reo Hatate and Adam Idah struck the woodwork as the Paisley side rode their luck.
However, never-say-die Celts got their reward in the 87th minute when substitute Luke McCowan rifled in the points-clincher after a sweeping move in the build-up.
James Forrest, Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda were involved before the Japanese ace rolled the ball in front of McCowan, lurking with menace on the 18-yard line.
The busy midfielder took a touch, set himself and then unleashed a low left-foot drive at goal.
It took a slight deflection off a defender and left keeper Shamal George helpless as it flew in at his left-hand corner.
Dame Fortune had obviously run out of scowls.
MATCHWINNER…Luke McCowan celebrates his late points-clincher.
The bad luck first struck when a first-half stoppage-time shot from Nygren hit George and deflected up onto the junction of bar and post.
The ball went back to the Swedish debutant who tried again with a 10-yard header, but the Paisley No.1 was right in line to hold the effort.
That was the nearest the hosts came to a breakthrough strike in the opening period where their opponents, as anticipated, worked their socks off with Alex Gogic a rock in the centre of their rearguard.
Up front, towering duo Mikael Mondron and Roland Idowu were deployed as battering rams when long balls were pitched forward. Thankfully, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales were up to the task.
There was a special cheer as Kieran Tierney took the first of a multitude of touches and the comeback Bhoy was busy as he patrolled the left wing and worked on combinations with Daizen Maeda.
In the 14th minute, the Scotland international defender, making his first competitive appearance after his six-year absence at Arsenal, showed some clever footwork with a deft spin to fashion an opening to whip in a cross.
OFF TARGET…Adam Idah fired blanks on opening day.
His ball was perfection, but Adam Idah’s header lacked direction and power and went into the grateful arms of George.
Five minutes later, Callum McGregor released Maeda after some quick thinking at a free-kick. The Japanese speedster was in the clear as he swept past the outrushing George.
The Celtic fans at the packed stadium got ready to welcome the first goal of the new Premiership season, but Maeda, for reasons known only to himself, decided to pass the ball across the box rather than shoot for goal and the chance was lost.
Just before the half-hour mark, a right-wing cross from Alistair Johnston carried all the way to Tierney. The left-back took a touch before firing in a full-blooded drive from just outside the box.
It looked dangerous, but Gogic lunged to divert the effort and the Saints survived again.
Kasper Schmeichel had been a virtual spectator, but the Dane displayed some impressive athleticism in the 33rd minute when he dived to his left to beat away a shot from Mark O’Hara.
THE LAST POST…New Bhoy Benjamin Nygren watches his shot flick off keeper Shamal George onto the woodwork.
Then came Nygren’s knock on wood to send the champions in at half-time just a tad exasperated and frustrated.
In the 53rd minute, it was Hatate’s turn to be denied by the woodwork. The midfield ace saw a low shot diverted by Marcus Fraser onto the keeper’s right-hand post.
The ball came back, hit the net minder on the legs, rebounded back onto the same upright and pass for a corner-kick.
Brendan Rodgers made his first change in the 59th minute when he sent on James Forrest for Yang Hyun-jun.
Tierney’s race was run in the 65th minute when he was replaced by Auston Trusty with Scales moving to left-back.
Three minutes later, McGregor – and everyone else – thought he had got the crucial opener with a low drive wide of George to his left.
The celebrations were cut short, though, when VAR noticed the ball had accidentally hit his elbow in the build-up and referee Don Robertson brought the cheers of thousands to an abrupt halt.
LUKE WHO’S SMILING…Saints keeper Shamal George is helpless as Luke McCowan’s drive heads for the net to give the champions a winning start to the new season.
In the 72nd minute, Scales picked out Idah at the back post, but his fellow-Irishman lacked composure with his close-range drive and thumped the ball waywardly off the keeper’s left-hand post and another chance was lost.
Six minutes later, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan and Johnny Kenny came on for Nygren, Hatate and Idah.
And it was McCowan who finally got the goal the champions so richly deserved.
One down, 37 to go!
TEAM: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney (sub: Trusty 65); Nygren (sub: Engels 78), McGregor, Hatate; (sub: McCowan 78), Yang (sub: Forrest 59), Idah (sub: Kenny 78), Maeda.
