Scott McDonald says that Celtic and Rangers both lack the consistency needed to win this year’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League. The Australian striker – who netted twice in Celtic’s 3-1 home win over St Mirren – believes that the Old Firm clubs are taking turns to be “in turmoil”.
McDonald’s goals – and Rangers’ 1-0 loss at Aberdeen – took Tony Mowbray’s men two points clear at the top of the league table. But the former Motherwell man is adamant that his team would be out of sight by now if they could be more consistent.
"Consistency is the key in this league,” said McDonald. “There is none of that going on.
"Ourselves and Rangers keeping giving each other a lifeline. It's us one week and them the next. One club is in turmoil one week and then it is the other.
"If we had had a good run in the league then by now we would be away from the rest."
McDonald’s first of the afternoon was given to St Mirren defender Chris Innes, with the former Livingston captain deflecting the ball past his own goalkeeper Paul Gallacher in the 38th minute. Georgios Samaras then made it 2-0 before Michael Higdon halved the deficit just before the interval.
McDonald’s goal from close range shortly after the hour then made it 3-1, but he missed out on the chance of a hat-trick when his late penalty was well saved by Gallacher. The striker though insists that Celtic’s first should go to him and not Innes.
"Someone told me that the first goal was an own goal and I gave him a strange look," he said. "It took a little nick off him but it was going in.
"The missed penalty will ruin my night even though it was a good performance. But the second save was very good. It is nice to get two goals, especially at Celtic Park."
Innes was also involved in controversy as he gave away the penalty with a blatant handball. Referee Steve Conroy showed him a second yellow card, before calling Innes back on to the park after realising that he hadn’t originally booked the player.
St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson had no qualms about referee Conroy's mistake, claiming an earlier infringement in the game had been more costly.
"Steve is a good referee and he will be highly embarrassed about that," he said. "It was an unusual mistake but I'm not upset.
"I'm more upset with the free-kick that we should have had before Celtic's first goal. It was quite clearly a foul on Stephen McGinn by Andreas Hinkel at the edge of the Celtic box.
"We can't shout too loudly about it because we got possession back and gave it away again. So I'm not going to complain about clerical errors."
Last updated: 28 November 2009, 19:16
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