Celtic secured a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory away to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday night. The win at the SMiSA Stadium in Paisley extended their perfect start to the season and sent them five points clear at the summit, as reported by the Daily Record Football.
Liam Scales was the central figure in a dramatic turnaround. The defender conceded a first-half penalty for handball, which St Mirren's Niko Agrafiotis converted to give the hosts a halftime lead. Scales then atoned for his error by powering in a second-half header to level the score. The winning goal came from Yang Hyun-jun, who finished smartly after a key assist from Camilo Duran.
How did the match unfold?
The game was a top-of-the-table showdown, with St Mirren having enjoyed a strong start to the campaign under manager Alex McLeish. Celtic's first half was disjointed. They had a goal disallowed for offside and struggled defensively against the pace of borrowed Arsenal youngster Ismeal Kabia. Captain Callum McGregor later admitted his side "wasted 45 minutes." The situation worsened when Scales handled in the box, leading to Agrafiotis's penalty and a 1-0 deficit at the break.
The second half brought a complete change. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill made a triple substitution, introducing Baur, and later brought on Oliver Sorensen, Sebastian Tounekti, and James Forrest. The pressure told when Scales met a set-piece to equalise. Minutes later, Duran found Yang, who slotted home to complete the comeback. St Mirren pressed for an equaliser and created chances, but Celtic held firm despite limited shots after taking the lead. The match featured multiple VAR checks, including a late offside review that ruled out a Shim Mheuka goal after he replaced Duran.
What is Celtic's current league position?
The victory solidifies Celtic's place at the top of the Scottish Premiership. As of September 6, 2026, they sit first with 12 points from a perfect record of four wins. They have scored 11 goals and conceded just two, giving them a commanding +9 goal difference. This result also opened up a two-point lead over St Mirren, their closest challengers at the time. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings throughout the season.
What did the key players say?
Match-winner Liam Scales addressed the penalty incident directly. "I thought the penalty was harsh, but we're happy with the result," he said. Captain Callum McGregor provided a blunt assessment of the performance. "Much better second half. A good win, important because we probably wasted 45 minutes," McGregor stated. His comments highlighted the need for improvement despite the positive outcome.
What comes next for Celtic?
Attention now turns to a packed schedule. The team must prepare for a important double-header against rivals Rangers. Before that, they have a home fixture against Motherwell on December 26, 2026. Motherwell currently sit fourth in the table, making it another significant test. Supporters can view the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page. Celtic will aim to maintain their flawless form and defensive solidity, having only let in two league goals all season.
