Celtic Claim Narrow Win Over St Mirren as O’Neill Praises McGregor’s Resilience
Celtic have moved up to second place in the Scottish Premiership following a hard-fought 1- victory over St Mirren, thanks to a first-half strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. However, much of the post-match discussion centered around captain Callum McGregor playing through the pain barrier.
McGregor managed 73 minutes of the fixture despite dealing with an injury issue in the build-up to the game. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill praised his captain’s determination, noting that McGregor was desperate to start and thankfully did not aggravate the problem.
O’Neill expressed his delight that McGregor came through the test safely, emphasizing just how important the midfielder is to the squad. The manager is optimistic that with a few days of rest, his captain will be fully fit for the upcoming Scottish Cup semi-final, where they will face St Mirren once again next Sunday. O’Neill added that getting through this league game provided a massive psychological boost for the player, clarifying that the club was never planning to rest him specifically for the cup tie.
Despite securing a crucial three points, O’Neill was highly critical of his team’s overall display. He voiced serious concerns about a sudden drop in energy levels that became apparent very early in the second half. While he acknowledged that holding on for a win is the most important outcome, the Celtic boss warned that the team must rectify their sluggish performance and show much more intensity in their upcoming matches.