Celtic youths

Mulgrew plays 45 minutes as Celtic lose at St Mirren

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Image for Mulgrew plays 45 minutes as Celtic lose at St Mirren

MulgrewCharlie Mulgrew made a 45 minute appearance as Celtic’s development side lost 4-3 away to St. Mirren.

It was the 29-year-old’s first outing since playing against Villarrea in the Premier League International Cup at Dartford in January.

Despite the goals it was a scrappy match with Celtic 2-0 down after five minutes but a goal from Derk Boerrigter and a second half double from Michael Duffy put them in front before the Saints hit back with a stoppage time winner.

Mulgrew partnered Tom Rogic in central midfield and was replaced at the interval by Luke Donnelly, fresh from his four goal display against Hibs in the SFA Youth Cup.

The first St Mirren goal came from a corner on the Celtic right, a Saints player found space at the back post with his shot helped into the net by a Celtic defender.

Two minutes later a short free-kick into the Celtic box created havoc with Lewis Morgan shooting low past Jordan Hart.

Celtic quickly played their way back into the match with Rory Currie on the right and Boerrigter on the left making some progress while Rogic was lively in the centre of the park prompting and pushing forward at every opportunity.

After a few half chances Boerrigter found the net from in the 33rd minute after a Rogic shot was deflected into his path with the former Ajax man taking a touch then shooting home from 15 yards.

Celtic could have been level before the break with the best of the chances falling to Innes Murray but his close range effort was instinctively pushed away by Marian Kello.

Duffy and Boerrigter forced saves out of Kello within the first five minutes of the second half as the hoops picked up where they signed off at the interval.

The goal that had been threatening duly arrived in the 56th minute when a cross by right-back Anthony Ralston was cleared to Duffy whose low shot from 12 yards out managed to escape past Kello.

In the 71st minute Celtic took the lead through a low shot from Duffy after he had combined well with Donnelly down the right but within a minute St Mirren were level through Morgan as they netted from their first attack of the second half.

Celtic’s nightmare was completed in stoppage time when substitute Ross Cameron guided a near post diving header into the net.

CELTIC: Hart; Ralston, Kelleher, McCart, Chalmers; Rogic, Mulgrew; Currie, Murray, Boerrigter; Duffy

SUBS: McManus, McCabe, Waters, Findlay, Wardrop, Donnelly, Kerr

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