Mika Baur celebrated his inaugural strike for Celtic as the Scottish champions stretched their flawless start to the current Premiership campaign to six matches. The victory came against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, a venue where the hosts have remained unbeaten this season, but Celtic’s experience and tactical adjustments proved decisive. Ahead of the encounter, manager Martin O'Neill made five alterations to his lineup, anticipating a busy fortnight that includes a Europa League fixture and the prospect of an Old Firm showdown in both the cup and the league. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, on loan from an English club, reclaimed his starting spot after a spell on the sidelines, while defender Kasper Høgh returned from injury to bolster the back line.
Johnstone made an immediate impact, producing a spectacular reflex save to deny Joel Cotterill, who was making his first start for St Johnstone. The early denial set the tone for a match in which Celtic generally enjoyed the better of the opportunities.
After the halftime interval, Baur found the net for the first time in a Celtic shirt, tapping home a low cross delivered by Egyptian international Haissem Hassan. The goal was a simple finish but carried great significance for the young forward, who had been searching for his first contribution to the Glasgow side.
Later in the second half, Hassan appeared to be on the verge of opening his own account, only for the ball to be ruled out of play before it could be headed back in by Høgh. The disallowed effort highlighted the fine margins that often dictate outcomes in tightly contested matches.
Despite a few chances for the visitors, Celtic held on to preserve a five‑point cushion over second‑placed Rangers at the summit of the table. The win marked Celtic’s thirteenth consecutive triumph across all competitions, a run that stretches back to the closing weeks of the previous season. While the performance was not the most convincing display of the Hoops’ potential, it was sufficient to maintain their dominance in the league and keep pressure on their chief rivals.
Key moments of the match were captured in a minute‑by‑minute recap: - 5’: Hassan’s early cross was saved brilliantly by the Saints’ goalkeeper, who managed to turn the ball away as Celtic pushed for an opening goal. - 19’: A low cross from Alic found Cotterill, who seemed destined to score before Johnstone palmed the ball away with a spectacular save. - 31’: McGregor’s shot was deflected by Campbell, and the resulting corner was cleared by Steward.
- 40’: Host forward Diabate’s effort was hooked off the line by Celtic defender Donovan. - 44’: A dangerous cross from Tounekti was headed past by Diabate, but the attempt was blocked. - 47’: McAlear beat McGregor and set up Steven, only for his shot to be straight at Johnstone.
- 52’: Baur tapped in from Hassan’s low cross, securing his first goal for Celtic. - 66’: A goal was disallowed after Høgh headed the ball back to Hassan, who struck it in, but the ball had gone out of play prior to the assist. - 71’: Høgh’s laid‑off ball found Hassan, whose curling effort was pushed past by Steward.
- 77’: Forrest’s attempt was denied by Steward, who twisted and turned at the edge of the box before palming the ball away. - 80’: Alic’s shot narrowly missed the post, going just inches wide. - 83’: Nygren’s shot, after a pass from Høgh, was saved by Steward, who forced a corner. - 84’: Nygren met Forrest’s cross, but the ball ended up in Steward’s hands.
Beyond the on‑field action, the match featured commentary from several pundits and managers. Sky Sports analyst James McFadden remarked on a controversial decision involving a ball that appeared to be in or out of play, emphasizing the difficulty of overturning such calls without clear evidence. He stated, "When it’s the ball either in or out or over the line, you need definitive proof to tell the assistant that he’s wrong.
We don’t have it here." Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, expressed a mixture of frustration and satisfaction. He admitted that the team struggled to convert chances, saying, "I’m not even sure what to make of the game. We could have scored a number of goals we didn’t. It was just kind of crazy, really.
… I thought somebody would just take responsibility, put it in the net and pass, pass, pass. Anyway, we’ve won the game, which I’m delighted with.
It was the most important thing." St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari also reflected on his side’s performance, acknowledging both the moments they created and the challenge of containing Celtic’s quality. He noted, "We definitely had our moments, but we knew the threat of Celtic. They have a little bit more possession and a final‑third threat. The question is, can we survive these moments?
When we get our own chance, can we take it? We didn’t today." Looking ahead, Celtic remain five points ahead of Rangers, with the next league encounter against their arch‑rivals scheduled for the following Sunday on Sky Sports. The upcoming fixtures, including a Europa League tie, will test the squad’s depth and resilience, especially as O’Neill continues to rotate players to manage fatigue. In summary, Mika Baur’s first Celtic goal not only added a personal milestone but also contributed to a vital win that keeps the title chase firmly in Celtic’s hands.
The match showcased a blend of solid defensive work, occasional missed opportunities, and the ever‑present debate over officiating decisions that accompany modern football. As the season progresses, both Celtic and St Johnstone will look to build on the lessons learned from this tightly contested encounter.