Nakamura scores Celtic winner

Shunsuke Nakamura scored an 87th-minute winner as Celtic won 1-0 at St Mirren.

The game appeared to be heading for a 0-0 draw until Barry Robson fouled Nakamura 25 yards from goal and the Japan international got up to curl the winner.

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson did not believe Celtic should have been given the free-kick but he chose not to discuss the incident because he was fined £500 earlier in the season for clashing with officials.

Mason said: "The referee said that I got contact on him but I felt that I just read him.

"He was trying to come on to his left foot and I got my body in front and he sort of fell."

However, Nakamura was convinced the referee was right to award a free kick, he said: "It was a foul, he came in from behind and tripped me."

Celtic's assistant manager Tommy Burns also backed the referee's decision but was not surprised to hear McPherson was upset.

He said: "I never got a right good look at it but at the time it seemed to me to be a foul.

"Nakamura cleverly cut across him and doing that you will always get the benefit of the doubt, as a forward.

"If I was at St Mirren I would probably be aggrieved as well but these things sometimes go for you or against you.

"We were very pleased with the result and at this stage it is all about winning points.

"It wasn't easy on the eye but it won't be anything that will concern anyone if we manage to win the league."

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