Celtic 7-0 Saints

Last updated : 28 February 2009 By Stuart Gillespie
We've had a few big defeats since we returned to the SPL, but nothing quite on this scale. We last conceded seven goals when we faced Rangers in 2000, but our last 7-0 defeat was to Raith Rovers in the first division in 1992.

I wasn't there (thankfully) and I'm unsurprisingly not in the mood to provide many details. As expected, we went 4-5-1, with Will Haining replacing Scott Cuthbert and Gary Mason and Stephen Thomson coming into midfield. That game plan was wrecked early on when Shunsuke Nakamura's shot squirmed through Chris Smith's gloves.

Things got worse when Ross was sent packing for a challenge on Scott McDonald inside the box - surprisingly, it seems the referee actually got a key decision right in a game against Celtic. Smith atoned for his earlier blunder by saving the spot-kick from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, but Nakamura scored a stunner before the break to give Celtic a two goal advantage.

The second half was all about damage limitation - and we failed miserably. Nakamura completed his hat-trick, Scott Brown grabbed a couple, Marc Crosas got one and John Potter scored an own goal.

Not a good day - we just need to pick ourselves up for Tuesday's game against Aberdeen.