Celtic Move 16 Points Clear in Scottish Premiership with 5-2 Win Over St Mirren

Image credits: Sky Sports

Celtic have taken a significant step towards retaining their Scottish Premiership title, moving 16 points clear at the top of the table with a 5-2 win over St Mirren. The match, played at the SMiSA Stadium in Paisley, saw the visitors come from behind twice before eventually taking control of the game. Hyun-Jun Yang scored two goals, including the winner, and provided an assist for Daizen Maeda's goal, as Celtic demonstrated their superior squad depth and quality.

The game was an entertaining and open affair, with both teams creating numerous scoring opportunities. St Mirren took the lead through a stunning free-kick from Declan John, but Celtic responded with a goal from Jeffrey Schlupp, his first for the club. The visitors then took the lead through a penalty from Arne Engels, but St Mirren equalized again through Killian Phillips. However, Celtic's substitutes, including Yang and Maeda, made a significant impact on the game, scoring three goals in the final 20 minutes to secure the win.

Celtic's victory was their 23rd in 26 league games this season, and it leaves them just three wins away from clinching a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title. The team's manager, Brendan Rodgers, was delighted with the performance, saying it was one of his favorite results of the season. He praised the energy and freshness of his players, as well as the impact of his substitutes, who made a significant difference in the game. The win also highlighted the importance of squad depth and the ability of Celtic's players to adapt to different situations and opponents.

St Mirren, on the other hand, were left to rue their missed opportunities and a controversial penalty claim that was rejected by the referee. The team's manager, Stephen Robinson, felt that his team had been unlucky and that the decision not to award a penalty had been a significant turning point in the game. Despite the defeat, Robinson was proud of his team's performance, saying they had given Celtic a run for their money and created several good chances. The team will now look to bounce back from the defeat and focus on their upcoming games, including a crucial match against Motherwell, who are currently sixth in the table.

The result has significant implications for the Scottish Premiership table, with Celtic now 16 points clear of their nearest rivals, Rangers. The team's next league game is against Rangers, which is sure to be a highly anticipated and intense match. In the meantime, Celtic will face Hibernian in the Scottish Cup, a game that will provide another test of their squad depth and quality. With their title ambitions firmly on track, Celtic will be looking to maintain their focus and momentum in the coming weeks, as they aim to secure a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title.

Here are the match scores:

• Celtic: Jeffrey Schlupp (28'), Arne Engels (45'+2), Hyun-Jun Yang (68', 90'+3), Daizen Maeda (88')
• St Mirren: Declan John (33'), Killian Phillips (48')

• Hyun-Jun Yang: 2 goals, 1 assist
• Daizen Maeda: 1 goal
• Jeffrey Schlupp: 1 goal
• Arne Engels: 1 goal
• Declan John: 1 goal
• Killian Phillips: 1 goal