Celtic 1 St Mirren 0

Scottish Premier League
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Celtic Park, Glasgow
CELTIC v ST MIRREN
CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Robson, S Brown, Hartley, McGeady; Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald.
Subs: M Brown, Samaras, Wilson, Donati, O’Dea, Caddis, McGowan.
ST MIRREN (4-4-2) Howard; Ross, Haining, Potter, Miranda; Murray, O’Donnell, McGinn, Brady; Mehmet, Brighton.
Subs: Smith, Wyness, Glierao, Hamilton, Barron, McAusland, McCay.

New signing Marc Crosas is introduced to the crowd before kick-off. The 20-year-old midfielder has joined the club from FC Barcelona on a four-year permanent deal.

The Scottish Premier League championship flag, for season 2007/08 is unveiled to the acclaim of the Celtic supporters, with Rosemary Burns, the wife of the late Tommy Burns, helping raise the flag with chairman, John Reid and club captain, Stephen McManus.

With the festivities now over the game finally kicks off, with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald kicking off the new season.

Free kick to St Mirren just inside the Celtic half, after Brown brings down McGinn.

Howard forced to hoof the ball out the park as McDonald closes down a back pass.

Vennegoor of Hesselink muscled out by Potter and Haining six yards in front of goal.

Free kick to Celtic, after McDonald is caught by Murray. Hartley lifts ball into the box where it is collected by Howard.

McManus steps up to intercept a through ball from midfield, Murray knocks the loose ball out of play.

Naylor deals with a cross in to the back post after initially looking for Boruc to come and collect.

Potter hoofs another ball down the channel out the park as McGeady looks to capitalise.

Hartley, Robson, Hinkel and Brown involved in a nice passing move that breaks down when St Mirren clears the German full-back's low cross from the right.

McDonald spins on the ball on the edge of the box, right in front of goal, but sees his shot cannon off Haining.

Ross steps up to challenge McGeady after a poor first touch by the winger allows the defender a chance to challenge.

Good possession play by Celtic, patiently building and progressing, passing from left to right, before Hinkel knocks the ball out of play as he attempts to get to the byline.

Good challenge by Caldwell on Mehmet stops a St Mirren foray forward on the halfway line.

McDonald dances away from two sliding challenges but fails to find a team-mate with a pass and instead sclaffs a weak, long-range effort well-wide of goal.

Hartley free kick from the left comfortably taken by Howard.

McDonald dispossessed by Brady as he attempts to cut inside. Caldwell then steps up with another great challenge to steal the ball from Mehmet.

Another header won strongly by Caldwell as Mehmet attempts to hold up play.

St Mirren free kick from Miranda headed away by McManus.

Good ball delivered by Miranda zips across the Celtic goal without a taker.

Referee Eddie Smith completely ignores a push in Robson's back allowing St Mirren to sustain their attack.

Hinkel cross, 25 yards up on the right, is headed over the bar by McDonald.

Barry Robson cuts inside and hits a long range effort bobbling wide of target.

Pass from McDonald cut out as Vennegoor of Hesselink attempts to turn and face goal.

McGeady gets through thanks to a combination of luck and brilliance, with his cross deflected onto the roof of the net. Robson's corner headed clear, worked back out to Robson and his cross is then collected by Howard.

Great run forward by Brown again puts the Saints under pressure.

Paul Hartley comes within a hair's breadth of getting on the end of a ball down the channel from Hinkel. But the German defender overhit the pass.

Potter cuts out a ball from McDonald as Vennegoor of Hesselink threatens.

McGeady hits a speculative 25 yarder over the bar.

Naylor concedes a free kick, 20 yards up the left touchline. Cross comes to nothing as the haolf-time whistle sounds after just over a minute of additional time.

SECOND HALF KICKS OFF - St Mirren in possession.

Celtic play their way out of defence, before the referee ignores a blatant foul on Hinkel as he attempts to cut inside.

Save by Artur Boruc to touch a Mehmet shot onto the post, Naylor then gets in the way of O'Donnel's follow up.

Chance for Gary Caldwell, Howard claws the ball out the air on the line.

Scott McDonald sends a header toward the top corner that is comfortably gathered by Howard.

O'Donnell fizzes a shot wide after the referee ignores another foul on McManus by Mehmet.

Naylor down injured after challenging for a 50-50 in front of goal. Moments after this McDonald sends a header inches wide. The left back limps off in some pain.

Naylor returns to the fray, running somewhat gingerly.

Official attendance: 57,441

Great tackle by McManus stops Mehmet in his tracks as he attempts to break through the middle.

Scott Brown breaks forward and fires a low shot on goal from the edge of the box which is collected by Howard.

Mark Wilson on for Lee Naylor.

CELTIC SUB - Samaras on for McDonald.

CELTIC SUB - Caddis on for Robson.

ST MIRREN SUB - Stephen O'Donnell off, Dennis Wyness on.

Marc McAusland sends a header spinning over the bar.

McGeady cuts inside from the left and sends a shot over, swerving away from the top corner.

Mehmet sends a shot wide on the turn, from just inside the penalty box.

Murray spoken to after a late and potentially dangerous challenge on Brown.

Caddis wins a corner. Hartley takes, swings thge ball in where it is headed away. Celic keep possession in front of the St Mirren goal, great play from Wilson and McGeady.

Referee adds on three minutes.

Referee ignores a blatant foul on Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, showing the Dutchman a yellow card. Bizarre decision from an inconsistent referee.

FINAL WHISTLE SOUNDS Celtic 1 St Mirren 0. Stadium/Fans' Man of the Match: Paul Hartley. Website man of the match: Gary Caldwell.