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McGregor's late stunner cuts gap between Celtic and Hearts

Celtic's Callum McGregor celebrates after scoring a 95th-minute winner
Celtic's Callum McGregor celebrates after scoring a 95th-minute winner

Callum McGregor fired a spectacular winner deep in stoppage-time as Celtic cut the gap on William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts to four points with a 1-0 victory over St Mirren.

The Celtic captain struck into the top corner from 25 yards to earn a win that looked unlikely for the majority of the game in Paisley.

The champions failed to register an effort on target until stoppage-time and McGregor's winner came beyond the four minutes of added time that the match officials had signalled.

The hosts had earlier come closest to a breakthrough through Conor McMenamin, who hit the post after missing from close range.

They also had the ball in the net when Liam Scales sent it past team-mate Kasper Schmeichel but the goal was disallowed for offside against McMenamin.

Celtic looked set to drop points for a fifth time in 12 Premiership games but they put pressure on Hearts before the leaders’ trip to Aberdeen on Sunday.

The build-up to the game had been overshadowed by Celtic’s abandoned annual general meeting, which saw the board jeered and principal shareholder Dermot Desmond’s son, Ross, hit back at critics and brand a section of fans "bullies".

Anti-board sentiment and songs against Desmond were aired throughout the game and the winner was followed by a loud rendition of "sack the board".

St Mirren had the upper hand in the early stages and came very close when Declan John drove forward and drilled the ball across the face of goal.

McMenamin stretched and got a foot to the ball but his touch just took it out of the reach of Jayden Richardson and just past the post.

McMenamin hit the post from 20 yards after a half-cleared corner and Miguel Freckleton shot over after another set-piece.

The closest Celtic came in the first half was when Sebastian Tounekti cut inside Richardson and fired inches over.

Johnny Kenny had a decent chance after Daizen Maeda won the ball but the new Republic of Ireland international sliced well wide.

Celtic’s interim management team of Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney made a half-time change as Luke McCowan replaced Kenny, which allowed Maeda to play through the middle.

The champions asserted themselves in possession and territory but not chances.

They had a penalty appeal rejected by Kevin Clancy when McGregor’s shot hit the elbow of Killian Phillips from close range.

Maeda almost got through the middle of an organised Saints defence twice, but he was stopped by Alex Gogic – by a foul just outside the box – and Miguel Freckleton’s last-ditch tackle.

St Mirren looked dangerous in moments despite dropping deeper for long spells. Richardson had a shot blocked, Keanu Baccus saw a curling effort held by Schmeichel and the offside flag denied them in the 69th minute.

McMenamin was in front of Scales as the Celtic defender scooped the ball towards goal as he prevented Phillips’ flick reaching the St Mirren midfielder.

Saints had a good chance late in the game when John received a return pass but the left-back shot straight at Schmeichel.

Celtic finally worked Shamal George, when Dane Murray’s header looped into the St Mirren goalkeeper’s hands.

That looked to be the final chance but McGregor fired into the top corner to spark a pitch invasion of celebrating Celtic supporters at the death.

Livingston manager David Martindale during the William Hill Premiership match at Ibrox Stadium
Livingston manager David Martindale

Elsewhere, Rangers rode their luck to claim a fourth straight league win under new boss Danny Rohl as Mohamed Diomande’s effort sealed a 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Livingston.

But the visitors left Ibrox incensed after the referee and VAR officials failed to award them a late penalty despite replays clearly showing Tete Yengi’s shot had struck the arm of Emmanuel Fernandez in the box.

Fernandez powered home a ninth-minute header from James Tavernier’s cross to give Rohl’s men the lead.

But Livingston, without a win in 10, levelled within 10 minutes when Yengi chased a long ball over the top and fired home.

After Yengi’s fruitless penalty shout, the striker had a further chance to snatch a winner when he was put clean through only to be denied by goalkeeper Jack Butland before the Gers had Diomande to thank for snatching the points 12 minutes from time.

Promoted Falkirk continued their dream season by cruising to a 3-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice – but home keeper Yevhen Kucherenko had a day to forget.

Kucherenko spilled a tame shot from Calvin Miller to give the Bairns a third-minute lead and 19 minutes later he spectacularly punched a Falkirk corner into his own net.

Amar Fatah tried to rouse the hosts when he looped his header against the bar but Kucherenko’s nightmare was complete on the hour mark when he misjudged a high ball forward and was caught in no-man’s land as Brian Graham beat him to slot home Falkirk’s third.

Goals from Kieron Bowie and Jamie McGrath proved enough for Hibernian to dispatch struggling Dundee at Easter Road.

Bowie’s superb low finish on the half-hour mark put Hibs ahead and any embarrassment Bowie felt for a howling miss under the crossbar was forgotten when McGrath squeezed home Hibs’ second on 59 minutes.

Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell is under more pressure after his side slid to their sixth straight loss in a 3-1 home defeat to Motherwell.

Two goals from Tawanda Maswanhise within the first half-hour got Kettlewell’s former club off to a flying start before a goal from Scott Tiffoney gave Killie hope at the start of the second half.

A 68th-minute penalty from substitute Apostolos Stamatelopoulos restored Motherwell’s two-goal advantage and by the time home substitute Lewis Mayo hit the woodwork late on, the points looked long gone.

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