Celtic managed to overturn an early setback and preserve the perfect start to their Scottish Premiership title defence, while St Mirren suffered their first loss of the campaign. The encounter in Paisley pitted the only two unbeaten sides in the top flight against each other, with the Buddies eager to extend their blistering opening run and claim the league summit. They began brightly, but a controversial handball and a penalty soon shifted momentum.
Mid‑first half, Liam Scales attempted to block a low drive from Chris Mochrie and handled the ball deliberately. Referee Mike Hughes pointed to the spot and Nikolas Agrafiotis stepped up, calmly slotting home the resulting penalty. The goal gave St Mirren an early lead and put Celtic under pressure to respond.
Shortly after, Camilo Duran appeared to level the score when he flicked a cross from Hyun‑Jun Yang into the net, but a VAR check confirmed he was marginally offside and the goal was disallowed. Both teams created a handful of half‑chances in the ensuing minutes. Callum McGregor, Hussain Hassan and Yang each saw opportunities slip past, while Scales, who had been at fault for the handball, sought redemption.
His moment arrived in the 51st minute when Mika Baur delivered a corner. Scales rose above the crowd and headed the ball past St Mirren keeper Jacob Chapman, equalising for Celtic and restoring confidence to the side.
The decisive blow came just a few minutes later. Duran, operating on the left wing, won the ball back, threaded a precise pass to Yang and set him up one‑on‑one with Chapman.
Yang took his chance calmly, beating the keeper and restoring Celtic’s lead. The visitors tried to rally, with new signing Shim Mhueka believing he had scored in stoppage time, only for the assistant referee to raise the flag for offside.
The match finished 2‑1 in Celtic’s favour, marking a flawless five‑point haul and widening the gap at the top of the table. Key moments of the game were captured in a minute‑by‑minute recap: a spectacular save by Sinisalo from a long‑range effort at the 18th minute, the penalty awarded to St Mirren after Mochrie’s strike clipped Scales’ arm, Agrafiotis’ powerful effort that rattled the bottom corner at the 22nd minute, and Duran’s equaliser that was later ruled out for offside. Later, McGregor failed to connect with Baur’s corner, Hassan’s cross found Duran only for the keeper to intervene, and a brilliant through‑ball from Hassan to Yang was squandered when Yang’s shot went wide.
The second half saw further drama, including a blocked header from Scales, a missed chance by Thomas from six yards, and a disallowed goal by Mhueka after a VAR review. Post‑match reactions highlighted the quality of the contest. Sky Sports analyst James McFadden praised Celtic as “worthy winners” who handled the pressure, possessed the ball, and capitalised on their chances.
He lauded St Mirren for adhering to Craig McLeish’s game plan, taking risks, and staying brave despite the odds. Former Celtic captain Jackie McNamara called the result "fair", noting St Mirren’s resilience and suggesting Celtic’s wingers dropping deeper may have reduced their impetus late on. St Mirren manager Craig McLeish reflected on his side’s performance, saying it demonstrated how far the group had progressed. He highlighted the 19 shots they produced as evidence of a sustained attacking threat, even though they ultimately fell short.
He admitted the disappointment of not securing a point but reminded everyone that “there’s always another game around the corner.” Celtic boss Martin O’Neill admitted the evening was “tough”. He felt his side lacked the fluidity they wanted but praised their determination to dig deep and claim the three points.
O’Neill also addressed the impending loss of Hyun‑Jun Yang to South Korean international duty, describing him as a "major blow" due to his defensive contributions and recent form. He noted Yang’s goal against St Mirren as a highlight and warned that his absence would be felt. Overall, the match provided a vivid illustration of why both clubs are still unbeaten. Celtic showed resilience by overturning a deficit, while St Mirren demonstrated that they can challenge the champions and create numerous scoring opportunities.
The result keeps Celtic five points clear at the summit, but St Mirren’s performance suggests they remain a genuine threat in the title race. Fans can look forward to further clashes between these two sides as the season unfolds, with both teams eager to prove they belong at the top of Scottish football.