Celtic continued their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over St. Mirren on Saturday. Despite facing a halftime deficit, goals from Liam Scales and Hyun-jun Yang in the second half secured all three points for Martin O’Neill’s side, maintaining their position at the top of the league.
The win marks Celtic's fifth consecutive victory in the Premiership, solidifying their status as title contenders, even as a recent European exit remains a significant setback.
Match Progression
St. Mirren took the lead in the 20th minute after a VAR review awarded them a penalty for an apparent handball. Nikolas Agrafiotis converted the spot-kick, beating Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo. Celtic had a goal disallowed shortly after, with Camilo Duran ruled offside by VAR.
Celtic equalized in the 51st minute when Liam Scales, who had been having a difficult match, headed home a corner kick. The breakthrough came in the 68th minute when Duran dispossessed a St. Mirren player, initiating a swift counter-attack. Duran then found Yang, who calmly slotted the ball past Saints keeper Jacob Chapman to give Celtic the lead.
St. Mirren pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, with Luke Thomas missing a late chance. Celtic also had a late goal disallowed for offside.
Team and Tactical Notes
Celtic made one change from their previous match, with Mika Baur replacing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield. Camilo Duran continued to lead the line in the absence of Kasper Hogh.
St. Mirren, who had been the only other unbeaten team in the league, adopted a possession-based approach under manager Craig McLeish. The team showed periods of attacking freedom but also conceded possession in risky areas.
Celtic's defensive fragility was apparent, as they have conceded an average of 15 shots per game this season. Despite the win, the team's defensive performance remains an area for improvement. The upcoming league and cup fixtures against Rangers present an opportunity for O’Neill's squad to redefine their narrative for the season.