Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hit back at St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson’s accusations following Celtic’s emphatic 5-2 victory at the SMiSA Stadium (Paisley 2021 Stadium). In a heated post-match press conference, Rodgers dismissed Robinson’s claims of unfair refereeing and took a subtle swipe at recently sacked Rangers boss Philippe Clement.
The match, played in front of a packed crowd in Paisley, saw Celtic dominate from start to finish, extending their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. However, St Mirren’s manager, Stephen Robinson, expressed frustration over what he claimed were “key refereeing decisions” favoring the visitors.
Rodgers Claps Back at Robinson’s Accusations
Rodgers wasted no time in shutting down Robinson’s complaints.
“It’s an easy excuse, isn’t it? When you lose heavily, you look for someone else to blame instead of focusing on your own team,” Rodgers said. “We were by far the better side. We scored five goals, controlled the game, and created plenty of chances. Referees had nothing to do with that.”
The Celtic boss pointed out that his team’s dominance was clear from the performance statistics. The Hoops enjoyed 65% possession, registered 17 shots on target, and dictated the tempo throughout the match.
“Stephen’s been around long enough to know that if you defend like that against Celtic, you’re going to be punished. Instead of blaming officials, maybe he should be asking why his team allowed us to carve them open so easily.”
Rodgers’ comments drew mixed reactions, with some praising his no-nonsense approach while others felt he was being dismissive of Robinson’s concerns.
A Subtle Dig at Philippe Clement
As if tensions weren’t already high, Rodgers took the opportunity to aim a thinly veiled dig at Philippe Clement, who was sacked as Rangers manager just days ago following a disastrous run of results.
When asked about the managerial situation at Ibrox, Rodgers smirked before responding.
“Managing in this league isn’t for everyone. You need to understand the demands, the pressure, and the expectations. If you don’t, you won’t last very long,” Rodgers said. “Some people come in thinking Scottish football is easy. But this is a league that will test you in every way possible.”
His remarks were widely interpreted as a jab at Clement, whose 16-month tenure at Rangers ended abruptly after a 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren—a loss that all but ended their title hopes. Despite winning the Scottish League Cup in December 2023, Clement’s inability to mount a serious title challenge ultimately led to his dismissal.
Rodgers’ words quickly spread across social media, with fans debating whether the Celtic boss was enjoying his rivals’ struggles a little too much.
Celtic Marching Towards the Title
With their victory in Paisley, Celtic took another major step toward securing the Premiership title. The Hoops now hold a commanding 13-point lead over Rangers, who are scrambling to find stability after Clement’s departure.
Rodgers, however, refused to get carried away.
“We’re in a good position, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” he said. “We’ll stay focused, keep improving, and make sure we finish the season the right way.”
As Celtic continue their march toward another league title, their city rivals are left to pick up the pieces. And with Rodgers not holding back in his comments, the intensity of the Glasgow rivalry shows no signs of fading anytime soon.
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