Celtic 1-0 St Mirren: Hoops close regular season with narrow win

Celtic Park, Glasgow – The Scottish Premiership’s regular season curtain fell on a controlled, if unspectacular, note for Celtic as a 15th-minute strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sealed a 1-0 victory over St Mirren and ensured the champions of last season finished with a modicum of momentum.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder, operating in a fluid front line, capitalised on a sharp passing move to sweep home the game’s only goal, a finish that proved enough to keep the home crowd buoyant and the visitors at arm’s length for the remainder of the contest.

Celtic dominated possession and dictated tempo throughout, but the single-goal margin was a fair reflection of a match that never fully ignited after the opener. With the three points, Celtic reached 67 points from 33 fixtures, securing second place in the table. Hearts, 70 points, took the title, leaving Celtic to contemplate a campaign that promised more for long spells but ultimately slipped away in key moments.

Attention now turns swiftly to the Scottish Cup. The draw has paired Celtic with St Mirren once more, this time in the semi-final on April 19, a fixture that now carries the weight of the club’s season. A trophy would cast a different light on a year of mixed emotions; anything less would deepen the sense of a prize that got away.