Mika Baur celebrated his inaugural goal for Celtic as the club extended its flawless start to the current Scottish Premiership title defence to six matches in a row. The victory came against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, a venue where the hosts have remained unbeaten this season, but Celtic managed to edge them out and maintain a five‑point cushion over second‑placed Rangers. In the lead‑up to the fixture, manager Martin O'Neill faced a packed schedule that includes an upcoming Europa League tie and a crucial Old Firm showdown in both the cup and league. To cope with the congestion, O'Neill made five alterations to his starting eleven.
Notably, goalkeeper Kasper Høgh returned from a long‑term injury layoff, while on‑loan keeper Sam Johnstone reclaimed the gloves for the opening half. Johnstone lived up to the trust placed in him, producing a spectacular reflex save to deny Joel Cotterill, who was making his first start for St Johnstone. The save set the tone for a match in which Celtic generally held the initiative. The first half was tightly contested, with both sides creating a handful of half‑chances, but neither could find the breakthrough.
The most notable moment came when St Johnstone’s goalkeeper produced a brilliant stop, tipping a low cross from the Celtic wing back over the bar, only for the ball to be cleared by a Celtic defender. The tension rose when a potential Celtic goal was ruled out after the ball had apparently gone out of play before a teammate could head it back into the box. After the interval, Celtic finally broke the deadlock.
Haissem Hassan, the Egyptian international, delivered a precise low cross from the right flank. Baur, arriving unmarked inside the six‑yard area, tapped the ball home with a calm finish.
The goal marked a personal milestone for Baur, who had been a regular presence in the midfield but had not yet found the net for the Glasgow side. The celebration was brief, however, as St Johnstone pressed for an equaliser and forced the Celtic defense to stay alert. Soon after the goal, a controversial incident unfolded.
Hassan appeared to score a second for Celtic, but the referee consulted the assistant and ruled the ball had gone out of play before the assist was delivered. The decision sparked a brief debate among the commentators, with Sky Sports analyst James McFadden emphasizing the difficulty of making definitive line‑call judgments without clear visual evidence.
He noted that the assistant referee, positioned along the cross‑bar line, had signalled the ball was out, and that there was no technology in place to overturn the call. St Johnstone continued to threaten, with several notable attempts.
Joel Cotterill found space on the left and fired a low cross that Johnstone managed to palm away. Later, a powerful strike from the host’s forward, Diabate, was blocked by Celtic defender Donovan, and a well‑timed header from Tounekti was headed past by the same defender. Despite these chances, Celtic’s goalkeeper Johnstone remained composed, making a series of saves that kept the scoreline at 1‑0. In the 52nd minute, the decisive moment arrived.
Hassan’s low cross was again met by Baur, who this time slotted the ball cleanly into the net. The goal was a simple tap‑in, but it cemented Baur’s place in Celtic folklore as the scorer of his first goal for the club. The crowd erupted, and the home side’s confidence grew as they sensed the match slipping away.
The remainder of the second half saw Celtic defend their slender lead with discipline. St Johnstone’s striker Nygren had a couple of opportunities, including a shot that forced the Celtic keeper to make a reflex save and a header that was cleared for a corner. Celtic’s defense, led by the experienced Campbell and the energetic Steward, cleared the danger repeatedly, ensuring the lead was preserved.
When the final whistle blew, Celtic celebrated their 13th consecutive win across all competitions, a streak that began in the closing weeks of the previous season. The result kept them five points clear at the top of the league table, with Rangers sitting in second place. O'Neill’s side will now turn their attention to the forthcoming Old Firm clash against Rangers, scheduled for the following Sunday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. Post‑match reactions highlighted the mixed emotions surrounding the performance.
O'Neill admitted to Sky Sports that the game was far from the fluid, attacking display he would have liked, saying, "We had chances to score, but we didn’t convert them. It was a chaotic match and we struggled at times. Still, we won, which is the most important thing." Celtic’s goalkeeper Johnstone was praised for his early save, which O'Neill believed could have changed the outcome had St Johnstone turned it into a goal. Meanwhile, St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari reflected on his team’s performance, acknowledging that they created moments of quality but failed to capitalise on them.
He noted, "We know we can hurt good teams, but against a side of Celtic’s calibre you need to take the chances you create. Unfortunately we didn’t today." The match also featured a series of statistical highlights: a crucial save by Johnstone in the opening minutes, a disallowed goal after the ball went out of play, multiple blocked attempts, and a handful of close‑range shots that tested the goalkeepers on both ends. Fans were reminded to use Chrome for optimal video playback, and promotional messages for the Sky Sports Super 6 competition were displayed throughout the broadcast. Overall, the fixture underscored Celtic’s resilience and depth, even when rotating the squad to manage a congested schedule.
Baur’s first goal will be remembered as a key moment in a season that appears to be shaping up as another successful campaign for the Hoops, provided they can maintain focus and continue to convert chances in the high‑stakes matches that lie ahead.