By FOS Editor
November 14 2010

Celtic moved back within one point of Rangers after a last gasp goal seals victory over St. Mirren.

The game kicked off after an excellently observed minutes silence on Remembrance Sunday, after recent troubles with Celtic fans and Poppy Day.

 

The visitors bossed the first half although scoring opportunities were hard to come by in a drab opening half-hour as St Mirren appeared content to sit deep and hit Celtic on the break.

 

Neil Lennon's side struggled to breach the Saints rearguard and the hosts were compact throughout the first half. Anthony Stokes headed over the bar when he rose unchallenged to meet Maloney's cross in the 31st minute.

 

It was actually Buddies striker Michael Higdon who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 52nd minute when his spectacular volley from 35 yards rebounded off the bar.

 

Both sides then missed decent chances in an absorbing second half before Hooper turned in the late winner after excellent work from Paddy McCourt to take the Hoops back to within one point of leaders Rangers.

 

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was thrilled with his side's display and was happy to wait for the goal that broke the deadlock, "We said at half-time that we'd wait until the 93rd minute if we had to," he said.

 

"We got what we deserved, we were fantastic. In the second half we cut them open. There were some fantastic performances out there, I'm really proud of the players.”

 

Counterpart St Mirren boss Danny Lennon conceded Celtic had reaped the rewards of playing until the final whistle, as he said after the game, "I think in the second half we had more belief and I thought defensively we were fantastic.

 

"But that's what the likes of Rangers and Celtic do, they go right to the death. They put you under so much pressure. It's that lack of concentration at the death that cost us.”