Mika Baur celebrated his maiden Celtic goal as the Glasgow side stretched their victorious start to the current Scottish Premiership title defence to six matches in a row. The win came against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, a venue where the hosts have remained unbeaten this campaign, but Celtic managed to edge them despite a number of missed opportunities on both sides.
The fixture arrived at a busy juncture in Celtic's calendar. With a crucial Europa League tie looming and the prospect of an Old Firm showdown in both the league and the Scottish Cup on the horizon, manager Martin O'Neill opted for a significant rotation.
Five changes were made to the starting eleven, most notably the return of goalkeeper Kasper Hogh from a long‑term injury layoff and the loan signing Sam Johnstone taking the gloves for the first time this season. The decision paid immediate dividends when Johnstone produced a spectacular reflex save to deny Joel Cotterill, who was making his first start for St Johnstone, from a low cross that looked destined for the back of the net.
The match opened at a lively pace, with both sides probing for an early lead. Celtic enjoyed the bulk of the chances in the opening half, largely thanks to the creativity of Egypt international Haissem Hassan, whose pace and ability to deliver accurate low crosses kept the St Johnstone defence on the back foot. However, the home side’s goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, was in fine form, pulling off several crucial interventions that kept the score level.
One of the most notable moments came when Johnstone palmed away a powerful header from Cotterill that had seemed certain to find the corner of the net. The deadlock was finally broken after the interval. In the 52nd minute, Hassan found himself in a promising position on the left flank and delivered a precise low cross into the box.
Baur, timing his run to perfection, met the ball with a deft touch and nudged it past the advancing Johnstone to register his first goal for the Hoops. The celebration was restrained but genuine, as the midfielder acknowledged the significance of scoring his inaugural goal for a club of Celtic's stature.
Soon after, the game produced a controversial moment that could have altered the scoreline. Hassan appeared to have headed the ball into the net, only for Hogh to intervene, heading the ball back into play for Hassan to finish.
However, the referee consulted the assistant and ruled that the ball had gone out of play before Hogh's intervention, nullifying what would have been Hassan's first Celtic goal. The decision sparked a brief debate among the commentators, with Sky Sports' James McFadden emphasizing the difficulty of making definitive calls on borderline incidents without clear evidence.
St Johnstone, despite their unbeaten record at home, struggled to create clear-cut chances. Their most threatening foray came in the 40th minute when Diabate's effort was acrobatically blocked by Celtic defender Donovan, and again in the 77th minute when a shot from Forrest was denied by goalkeeper Steward after a scramble in the box. Both sides exchanged a series of saves, blocks, and near‑misses, with the match tempo remaining high throughout. In the final stages, Celtic held on to their slender lead, with O'Neill's side showing resilience despite not playing at their most convincing level.
The manager later reflected on the performance, admitting that the team could have been more clinical: "We had several opportunities to extend the lead, but we failed to finish. It was a bit chaotic at times, and I expected someone to step up and put the ball in the net," he told Sky Sports.
He also praised Johnstone's early contribution, noting that without the keeper's crucial save, St Johnstone might have taken the lead. St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari offered a measured assessment of his team's display.
He acknowledged that Celtic's quality and final‑third threat were evident, but insisted his side created enough chances to potentially score. "We had moments where we could have taken the lead, but we didn't capitalize on them," Valakari said.
"Against a team of Celtic's calibre, you need to make the most of every opportunity, and unfortunately we fell short today." The victory marks Celtic's 13th consecutive win across all competitions, a streak that stretches back to the closing weeks of last season. It also solidifies their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership, keeping them five points clear of second‑placed Rangers. The next challenge for O'Neill's men will be a high‑stakes league clash against Rangers on the following Sunday, a fixture that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and could have significant implications for the title race.
Beyond the immediate result, the match offered several talking points for analysts and fans alike. The decision to rotate the squad demonstrated O'Neill's confidence in his depth, while the performance of the loan goalkeeper Johnstone highlighted the club's ability to integrate temporary signings effectively.
Baur's goal, meanwhile, could be a catalyst for his confidence moving forward, potentially earning him more regular playing time. In summary, Celtic secured a hard‑earned three points at McDiarmid Park, extending their winning run and maintaining a comfortable cushion at the summit of the league. While the performance was not their most dominant, the team showed enough quality to see out the game, and the contributions of players like Baur, Hassan, and the newly returned Hogh will be crucial as the season progresses toward its decisive phases.