The last time Celtic travelled to St. Mirren Park in the league, it proved to be then-manager Tony Mowbray’s last game. A surprising 4-0 defeat to the Paisley side was the final nail in the coffin for Mowbray, and he was promptly replaced by current manager Neil Lennon who took on the caretaker’s role until the end of the season.
Football is a funny thing, and while a defeat could potentially be on the cards for Celtic one more, having watched St.Mirren on numerous occasions this season under Danny Lennon I cannot see how the Paisley side can pile on more away day blues for Neil Lennon’s side. In fact I can’t see anything other than Celtic overrunning the Paisley side in some revenge for last season and to get back to winning ways after the poor showing in midweek.
The two sides faced off against one another at Celtic Park, back in August. That game saw Celtic triumph 4-0 with Joe Ledley, Shaun Maloney, James Forrest and Ki Sung Yeung scoring.
Midfielder Joe Ledley will miss out on today’s game as he is suspended after he was sent off on Wednesday in the 2-0 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle. But Thomas Rogne returns to the fold after serving a one match ban after being sent off in the 9-0 mauling of Aberdeen last Saturday.
Meanwhile the home side will have to do without influential midfielder Hugh Murray who fractured his cheekbone in the 2-1 win over Dundee United on Wednesday. On loan striker Paul McGowan, who has impressed during his time in Paisley, will also miss out as he is ineligible to play against his parent club, Celtic. David Barron, Craig Dargo, Steven Thomson and Stevie Robb are all back in contention for the Buddies.
The referee for the game is Iain Brines, and his linesmen are Alasdair Ross and Brian McGarry. The fourth official is Euan Norris.
The game kicks off at 2pm.
St Mirren Squad: Samson, Van Zanten, McAusland, Lynch, Potter, Cregg, McGregor, Travner, Higdon, Wardlaw, McLean, Mathers, McCluskey, Brady, Lamont, Mooy, Barron, Dargo, Thomson, Robb.
Celtic Squad: Forster, Cha Du-Ri, Rogne, Majstorovic, Izaguirre, McGinn, Hooiveld, Ki, Juarez, Stokes, Hooper, McCourt, Maloney, Samaras, Mulgrew, Zaluska, Towell, Wilson, Loovens, Murphy.
