Mika Baur celebrated his inaugural goal for Celtic as the Glasgow side stretched their winning run in the Scottish Premiership to six matches. The victory came against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, a result that keeps Celtic comfortably atop the table and maintains a five‑point cushion over second‑placed Rangers. The match was played amid a congested fixture list for the champions, who have a Europa League tie and an Old Firm showdown in both the cup and league looming on the horizon. Manager Martin O'Neill opted for a heavily rotated eleven, introducing five changes to his usual lineup.
Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, on loan from an English club, returned to the side after a brief injury lay‑off and immediately made an impact with a spectacular save to deny Joel Cotterill, who was making his first start for St Johnstone. The early stages were dominated by the visitors, who enjoyed the majority of clear‑cut chances. Johnstone’s reflexes were tested repeatedly, most notably when Cotterill met a low cross from Alic and seemed destined to slot the ball home, only for the goalkeeper to palm the effort away. Celtic’s defence, marshalled by the newly fit Kasper Hogh, held firm and kept the score level throughout the first half.
The deadlock was finally broken after the interval. A well‑timed run by Haissem Hassan saw him deliver a precise low cross into the box.
Baur, arriving at the edge of the area, nudged the ball home with a deft tap that left the St Johnstone keeper no chance. It was a moment of personal triumph for Baur, who had been searching for his first Celtic goal since joining the club. Soon after the goal, a controversial incident unfolded.
Hassan appeared to have scored a second, but the ball was ruled out of play before Hogh could head it back into the striker’s path. The referee’s decision stood, denying Celtic a potential double and preserving the narrow 1‑0 margin.
St Johnstone, who have remained unbeaten at home this season, pressed for an equaliser. They created several opportunities, including a close‑range effort from McGregor that was deflected by Celtic defender Campbell, and a threatening drive from Diabate that was blocked by Donovan. Despite these chances, the home side could not find a way past Johnstone, who made another crucial save in the 71st minute when Hogh’s well‑placed lay‑off to Hassan was comfortably palmed away by the Celtic custodian.
The match featured a series of noteworthy moments that kept the spectators engaged. At the 5‑minute mark, Hassan’s early attempt was denied by a strong stop from the Saints’ goalkeeper. A series of saves followed, including a spectacular fingertip block from Johnstone at 19 minutes and a series of defensive interventions from Celtic’s back line that prevented the hosts from gaining a foothold. Statistically, the game was a tight affair.
Celtic completed a total of 13 consecutive wins across all competitions, a streak that stretches back to the closing weeks of the previous season. While the performance was not as dominant as some of their earlier displays, it was sufficient to maintain their lead in the league and to keep the pressure on Rangers, who will travel to Celtic’s home ground for the next league encounter. Post‑match reactions highlighted the mixed emotions surrounding the result. Sky Sports analyst James McFadden commented on the contentious disallowed goal, emphasizing the difficulty of making definitive calls on whether the ball was in or out without clear evidence.
He noted that the assistant referee’s positioning along the cross‑bar line left little room for debate, and that the decision would likely stand. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill, speaking to Sky Sports, admitted that the team’s attacking output was below expectations. He praised Baur’s composure in front of goal but lamented missed opportunities, stating, “We could have scored a number of goals that we didn’t.
It was a bit chaotic at times, and I wish someone had taken more responsibility in the final third.” Nevertheless, O’Neill expressed satisfaction with the three points, calling the win “the most important thing” and acknowledging Johnstone’s crucial save in the first half that prevented St Johnstone from taking the lead. St Johnstone’s boss Simo Valakari also reflected on the game, recognizing Celtic’s superior possession and threat in the final third. He said, “We had our moments, but we know Celtic can dominate.
The question is whether we can survive those periods and capitalize on the chances we create. Today we didn’t, and that’s disappointing.” Valakari stressed that his side had produced enough quality to merit a goal, but the finishing touch was missing.
Looking ahead, Celtic’s schedule remains demanding. The upcoming Europa League fixture will test the squad’s depth, while the highly anticipated Old Firm clash against Rangers promises to be a decisive battle for the title race. O’Neill’s rotation policy suggests that he will continue to manage his players’ workloads carefully, especially with the league match against Rangers set for the following Sunday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. In summary, Mika Baur’s first goal for Celtic proved decisive in a tightly contested 1‑0 win over St Johnstone.
The match featured a blend of solid defensive work, a few contentious moments, and a reminder that even a team as strong as Celtic can struggle to break down organized opposition. The win keeps them five points clear at the summit, maintains their unbeaten run, and sets the stage for a crucial showdown with Rangers in the weeks to come.