Mowbray under pressure after defeat

SCOTTISH LEAGUE/St Mirren 4 Celtic 0:CELTIC'S FAINT hopes of catching Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League were all but demolished in the most dramatic fashion with their first league defeat at St Mirren in 21 years.

In an astonishing night in Paisley, doubles by midfielders Andy Dorman and Steven Thomson stunned Tony Mowbray’s side who were booed off the park by the travelling fans.

The Parkhead side, who finished the game with six attackers on the park, remain 10 points behind their Ibrox rivals who have two games in hand.

In the 25th minute Hoops’ midfielder Aiden McGeady, the visitors’ most dangerous player, drove at the St Mirren defence and played Robbie Keane in with a clever pass.

Gallacher blocked the Dubliner’s low drive but the ball spun high in to the air and had to be cleared from under the bar.

Gallacher made another save from Keane but this time the shot was tame.

The visitors were in control but in the 38th minute, and against the run of play, the Paisley side took the lead, seconds after a penalty claim for a push on Dargo by Edson Braafheid had been ignored by the referee.

When the ball came back into the centre the Hoops’ defence failed to clear and Dorman fired past Zaluska from inside the box.

Moments after McGeady’s cross evaded everyone in the St Mirren six-yard box, Mehmet then flashed a Ross cross over the bar.

There was more drama in the 58th minute when Saints doubled their lead. Dargo robbed Thompson down the left, played a one-two with Mehmet then shaped to shoot before setting up Steven Thomson who rifled past Zaluska.

In the 84th minute Dorman took advantage of more slack play to slam in number three.

Moments later, the Celtic goalkeeper had to stretch to catch a lob by Dargo as the Celtic backline threatened to dissolve, as they did when Thomson completed his brace three minutes later.

ST MIRREN: Gallacher, Ross, Mair, Potter, Murray, Dorman (O’Donnell 90), Mehmet (Higdon 86), Thomson, Brady, Robb, Dargo (Loy 90). Subs not used: Howard, McLennan, Devlin. Goals: Dorman 38, Thomson 58, Dorman 84, Thomson 87.

CELTIC: Zaluska, Wilson, Thompson, O’Dea, Braafheid (Rasmussen 75), McGowan, N’Guemo, Ki (Fortune 60), McGeady, Keane, Samaras. Subs not used: Boruc, Hinkel, Crosas, Zhi, Caddis. Booked: Thompson.

Referee: C Richmond (Scotland).