Celtic Extend Lead
Celtic Defeat St Mirren to Extend Scottish Premiership Lead to Five Points
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Martin O’Neill praised Yang’s all-round contribution, saying the winger “doesn’t mind doing the hard graft” and is effective defensively as well as in attack.
2
The victory offered Celtic a chance to change the mood after their humiliating Champions League exit to LASK Linz, with an upcoming league-and-cup double-header against Rangers presenting another opportunity to shift the narrative.
3
Celtic had a first-half equalizer from Camilo Duran ruled out after VAR found Yang offside, while St Mirren’s late substitute Shim Mhueka also had a stoppage-time goal disallowed for offside.
4
Celtic made one change from the side that beat Aberdeen 3-0, with Mika Baur replacing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield; Duran continued as the central striker in place of the injured Kasper Hogh.
5
The result extended Celtic’s winning record in recent league visits to Paisley to six matches, with their previous five victories there having come by an aggregate score of 17-3.
Celtic came from behind to beat St Mirren 2-1 in Paisley, staying perfect with five wins from five league games and extending their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to five points. Herald Scotland reported that Nikolas Agrafiotis gave St Mirren an early lead from the penalty spot, but Liam Scales equalized with a second-half header before Hyun-jun Yang scored the winner on a counterattack.
The comeback victory offers Celtic breathing room after their embarrassing Champions League exit to LASK Linz and comes as Yang prepares to leave for South Korea's Asian Games squad. Daily Mail noted that manager Martin O'Neill praised Yang's all-around play, saying the winger "doesn't mind doing the hard graft" and contributes defensively as well as in attack.
Celtic Scores Twice After Falling Behind Early
St Mirren stunned Celtic in the first half when Nikolas Agrafiotis converted a penalty after Liam Scales was penalized for handball. Islington Gazette reported that Celtic equalized through Scales himself in the second half with a well-placed header, then completed the turnaround when Yang finished a sharp counterattack created by Camilo Duran.
The loss ended St Mirren's unbeaten start to the season despite their strong performance. Reading Chronicle noted that St Mirren recorded 19 attempts on goal but could not hold on, with Celtic's resilience proving decisive in a match that mattered for the title race.
VAR Disallows Two Goals in a Controversial Afternoon
Celtic had a first-half equalizer from Camilo Duran ruled out for offside after VAR review, while St Mirren's late substitute Shim Mhueka also saw a stoppage-time goal disallowed for the same reason. 67 Hail Hail reported that Celtic would have won by a larger margin if both goals had stood, highlighting how VAR decisions shaped the final scoreline.
The multiple offside calls drew scrutiny, with officials reportedly experiencing communication issues during the match. These controversies underscore the ongoing debate about VAR accuracy in Scottish football and its impact on how teams approach their attacking play.
Yang Heads to Asian Games as Celtic Face Rangers Twice
Hyun-jun Yang is expected to miss Celtic's next four matches while representing South Korea at the Asian Games, a period that includes two crucial encounters against Rangers. Daily Mail noted that Yang may also face South Korean national-service obligations depending on how the tournament unfolds, adding another layer of uncertainty to Celtic's fixture list.
Despite Yang's absence, Celtic's win preserved their perfect start and maintained momentum heading into the Rangers clashes. Celtic have now won their last six league visits to Paisley by a combined score of 19-3, a record that underscores their dominance in this fixture and their growing confidence this season.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
18
Articles
21
Reach
39
A
AnonymousAuthor
