Scottish Premiership: St Mirren equalise through Phillips against Celtic

Mikael Mandron is indeed off. He’s replaced by James Scott.

Big shoes to fill.

Stephen McGinn
Former Dundee midfielder on BBC Sportsound

This will be a big worry for St Mirren.

I think this is arguably Mikael Mandron’s best spell in a St Mirren shirt. He’s really been the focal point.

With the injury to Jonah Ayunga, they’re already short in attack.

Mikael Mandron drags a shot agonisingly wide, and he appears to be in some agony too.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA

This is turning into a mini-classic this evening in Paisley.

Exactly what the game needed – an early equaliser in this second half from St Mirren.

They’ve more than matched the league leaders in these opening 50 minutes. More goals in this one? I’d say so.

Stephen McGinn
Former Dundee midfielder on BBC Sportsound

That goal is all about Alebiosu. We wondered how he’d react at half-time but that’s him at his best.

Phillips will hit balls a lot cleaner than he has there but what a start for St Mirren.

WOW! Phenomenal from Phillips.

A few folk might say he didn’t mean it, and while they’re probably right, I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt here.

He arrives onto the ball inside the box and digs it out of the deck, into the roof of the net.

Celtic get us going again in Paisley.

Celtic have scored 39 first-half goals in 29 games, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.

Celtic have scored 18 goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.

Declan John has scored his first goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 23 December 2017 against Kilmarnock.

Back to business in Paisley…

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: “We were decent at times on a terrible surface. I felt for all the players out there.

“We had to just play for territory and make sure we didn’t make mistakes. We spoke about the game, about the pitch and conditions where mistakes could win it. One of the only times they were in our box in the first half, we’ve not dealt with the situation.

“We’ve got to do it the hard way, try and come from behind. The effort of the players was magnificent. We were the dominant team. You don’t see a lot of teams doing that up here. We gave it a go, unfortunate not to get anything from the game.

“It’s been a tough week. We were close to Aberdeen, close today, close against Rangers. But it’s the stage of the season where you’d rather win a game and not deserve to win.

“It’s a major disappointment but I’ve been in dressing rooms a long time, I can see the commitment and motivation of the players to do better. We’ll get better as we go along, we’ll get one or two back.

“I see signs that we’ll be alright.”

Ross County manager Don Cowie told BBC Scotland: “Very hard fought. A really important three points, and another three points toward where we want to get to – 35 points. That was our total last season. We’ve now got nine games to really add to that.

“It was a tough game, we had to defend a lot. They put us under a lot of pressure, a lot of entries into our box. It’s definitely not the best we’ve played this season, but it’s the best three points we’ve had this season.

“They had a few openings which on another day they take. Derek [McInnes] will be disappointed they didn’t take one of the chances. I’ve got to focus on my own group. I see a team that’s putting their body on the line.

“That’s three wins in the last four games at an important stage of the season. I couldn’t ask for any more in terms of the effort they’re putting in.”

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari told BBC Scotland: “One of our issues has been in these games, when we cannot win, we have lost it.

“Today we could not win, but we were able to the get draw, I am very pleased with that.

“I’m very happy with how we defended these moments at the end. Overall, an okay away performance.

“I feel it (the nerves), the fans feel it, the players feel it. The opponents made it difficult for us.

“Our players felt it physically and mentally but they enjoyed the moment.

“It’s a tough league, we have been so deep, now we need to stay there and make this final push for everything to be good.”

Dundee manager Tony Docherty told BBC Scotland: “It’s bittersweet to be honest with you.

“First half I thought St Johnstone were better and I thought we were much better second half.

“I know the importance of the winning the game, but there’s also an importance of not losing the game.

“We looked solid with Joe (Shaughnessy) in there organising, the biggest positive I can take from today is that my captain is back.

“We’ve stopped the rot, we’ve picked up a point today, but it maybe should’ve been three.

“I felt that security. I didn’t feel at any point in that second half that we’d lose that game and it was really important that we didn’t lose.”

Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer told BBC Scotland: “We had to change the atmosphere in the stadium and I think the guys did really well.

“The subs did really well and we defended until the end.

“This is something I want to see from the guys on the pitch that we are brave, that we have courage on the ball, that we find the right balance in possession. I think we were good in pressing so I’m very proud of the guys.

“I have to say it was a very tough game. We had chances to make the third goal, especially in the first half. In the end a little bit of luck and also deserved to win.”

Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson told BBC Scotland: “Really disappointed. I never saw it coming, but there’s clearly a problem in terms of playing at home. That’s something we need to get to the bottom of.

“There was a real lack of energy. Second half, they came back a wee bit but I had to make a few changes to make that happen. Overall, it’s not good enough. There’s no way I’m going to say otherwise.

“I said to the players ‘the fans will go with you if you show passion’ and I didn’t see as much of that as I wanted to.

“I’m going to give it everything to try and solve the problem. I’m positive I will fix it.

“There are good players, technically. To play at Rangers you need to be mentally strong.”

Right, let’s quickly catch-up on the thoughts of the managers from today’s earlier games.

And there’s only one place to start…

Just before half-time, btw, Mikael Mandron had a cracking chance right in front of goal.

The striker brought it down on his chest, but was stretching to poke it home.

Well, that’s flew in.

Jeffrey Schlupp’s first Celtic goal had the league leaders ahead, but, Declan John deservedly hauled St Mirren level with a lovely free kick.

Just as the clock went into red, Arne Engels scored from the spot after the Buddies conceded a needless penalty.

Good watch, this…

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA

Ryan Alebiosu may want to avoid too much eye contact with his manager at half-time.

Stephen Robinson looked like he was absolutely fizzing by the concession of that penalty. Little wonder.

St Mirren had played really well for the preceding 44 or so minutes, created numerous chances, subdued Celtic for large periods, and scored a really good goal.

And yet may well trail at the break. Football, eh?