Ange Postecoglou's FULL St Mirren v Celtic reaction

That was a brilliant second-half performance from your team. What do you make of it overall?

We knew it was going to be a challenging game for us today. St Mirren particularly at home has been difficult to deal with for all sides. With the decision going against us early, we had to maintain our composure, which I thought for the most part the boys did well. It’s very easy to get caught up in the game at that point but we continued to try and maintain our football and we created some good chances. Kyogo gets headlines for his goals but his ability to press opposition defenders and not give them a moment’s peace, we got the reward for that. In the second half, we stayed clear-headed about what we needed to do. They didn’t change too much, they stayed deep. We were just better at sort of maintaining our composure. The guys who came on were outstanding and it was a good job.

Was that a day for trusting your football and knowing and believing that if you keep doing what you do it will come?

You have to be careful not to think it will come naturally. You’ve still got to work hard and make sure your intensity is high, you’ve got to persist with your pressing and be patient. All those kinds of things are constants. You don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking it will unfold naturally. You have to work hard for it. The beauty of this team is they are prepared to do that and the guys who came on provided us with the drive when we needed it. I thought it was a really excellent performance.

It is not often a player gets a hat-trick of assists but Aaron Mooy did and his contribution was excellent again wasn't it?

He’s (Mooy) one that stays clear-headed. He’s a very experienced guy who has played at World Cup and in the Premier League. He’s one that is not going to get too worried about the game state. He’s going to stay clear-headed and he was good today.

What did you make of the VAR decisions that went for and against your team?

It is what it is, mate. It doesn’t miss anything, VAR. VAR doesn’t miss anything by the looks of it - especially with us.

Liel Abada had a great impact when he came on what was your assessment of him?

He was really good. It’s important — and it’s a weekly thing — that the guys who come on make an impact. The fact they’re not starting doesn’t affect their mindset. I just thought the way the game was going, it was a good game for him to come on into. I knew he would get a bit of space out wide to run at them. He’s a handful when he does that and he’s always a goal threat. It doesn’t matter what opposition he is up against. He was really good today. He’s played a lot of football over the last 18 months for us and he’s scored a lot of goals and supplied a lot of assists. He’s still got a way to improve, I’m sure, but again he’s another within the group who just wants to be better. Consistently when he is asked to contribute he makes a contribution.

What does it say about Abada's character that he doesn't start every week but when comes on he is desperate to impress?

He’s a pretty strong-willed young man. It wasn’t easy for him to come across here at his age. He’s come into a big club where there are expectations. When you are a winger at this football club people don’t give you allowances for your age or whatever kind of player you are. They want to see goals and assists and he’s been consistent in doing that. I know he’s not had a lot of starts but he’s still played a lot of football. He and Matty are probably the only two who have played every game for us this year. People focus on who starts and they think players aren’t getting game time. But from our perspective, he’s been a really strong contributor last year and this year and he will continue to be.

Are you glad that Abada didn't throw his toys out of the pram and just gets on with things?

What do you reckon would happen to players who throw their toys out of the pram, mate? He’s a really ambitious guy who wants to be at a big football club. He wants to win things and be the best he can be. That’s exactly where he is at. All our players, particularly the younger ones who want to go on to further opportunities, maybe to a stronger league, do you think they are going to go to a club where they are guaranteed game time? No. So it’s no different here. We are a big club. Nothing is guaranteed. You’ve got to earn everything and these boys do that.

Alistair Johnston weighed in with his first career goal although TV was trying to take it off him what are your thoughts on that?

Good luck with that. Ali’s been really good for us and I thought he was solid defensively, as he has been, but he was a real threat. He’s got himself into some good areas in recent games and it just hasn’t fallen for him. He’s a pretty determined guy and his contribution today was important. He didn’t have to do a lot of defending but he had to do more on the attacking side and he contributed well, particularly with Liel (Abada) on the right-hand side.