St Mirren V Celtic at St Mirren Park : Match Preview

30 March 2013 14:01
St Mirren V Celtic - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Puri in line for Saints bow

Sander Puri could make his St Mirren debut in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Celtic.

The 47-times capped Estonia winger signed before the Scottish Communities League Cup final, but did not make the Hampden squad.

Thomas Reilly, David Barron and Darren McGregor remain on the sidelines, but the latter played 90 minutes for the Under-20s in their victory at Motherwell on Thursday as he bids to return from a serious knee injury.

Danny Lennon will try to make sure his St Mirren players are back down to earth in their first match since winning the Scottish Communities League Cup.

But the Saints boss aims to keep the supporters on a high.

Lennon and the squad sat through an emotional viewing of the club's new cup final DVD, which chronicles their Hampden triumph against Hearts and the celebrations.

An estimated 15,000 people packed Paisley town centre to welcome the team back with the cup and Lennon hopes some of them help fill St Mirren Park for the visit of the leaders.

And Lennon is determined to keep them coming back.

"We were just up at the launch of the DVD and we watched it together, the full group," Lennon said.

"It was very emotional to see everyone and their love and affiliation of this football club - from the supporters, directors, to the players and families and friends.

"The supporters are the most important people at this club and if we manage to get that extra few through the gate on the back of this cup success, we'll be doing our damnedest to make sure we keep them here and we are only going to do that by giving them entertainment."

Lennon added: "We can't rest on our laurels. What we have to do is make that cup success a platform and continue our journey.

"We have eight very important league games to go. We are more points better off than this time last year but we are lower in the league. They are two very important aims for us."

Celtic skipper Scott Brown had surgery on an abductor problem during the international break and will be out for four to six weeks.

Hoops boss Neil Lennon said: "Scott Brown had surgery in the break and so he is looking at a month, four to six weeks.

"Thomas Rogne has a hamstring strain and he will out for two to three weeks.

"James Forrest (back) is continuing his rehab at the minute.

"Joe Ledley didn't train due to a slight groin strain but will hopefully train Saturday and Adam Matthews (hamstring) will train on Monday.

"Charlie Mulgrew is fine, he had a tight hamstring before the Serbia game and Gordon Strachan didn't take any chances with him obviously, but he came through training okay."




Source: PA