“It’s difficult to score goals – but we made it look almost impossible,” Martin O’Neill | OneFootball

“I think I could have scored more,” Martin O’Neill bemoans his sides failings in-front of goal…

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Scottish Premiership , St Johnstone versus Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Martin O’Neill was just about happy enough with yet another three points after a slender 1-0 win over St Johnstone in Perth last night.

However, the veteran Irishman has told his players to sharpen up in-front of goal, after Mika Baur’s early second half strike was the only difference between his side and the newly promoted St Johnstone.

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Scottish Premiership St Johnstone versus Celtic; Mika Baur of Celtic celebrates after he shoots and scores in the 52nd minute to make it 1-0 to Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

The Celtic manager reflecting in his side’s 1-0 victory said via Clyde SSB: “A win is a win but I’m not sure what to make of it, really. It’s difficult to score goals – but we made it look almost impossible.

“We could have scored a number of goals and we didn’t. It was crazy really. I thought someone would take responsibility and put it into the net.”

Martin reckoned the side missed the influence of current top scorer Camilo Duran who didn’t start the game with a derby doubleheader, and a European clash with Ferencvaros looming.

“Duran didn’t start for us and he’s been class” the Celtic manager said.  “He looked tired in the game against St Mirren.

“But I’m not surprised because of the amount of things that he does for us. Both with the ball, which is terrific, and also the work that he does off it. He’s second only to Daizen Maeda in terms of closing players down.

“So I wanted to try and see if we could do without him, and the answer is probably not!”

The Hoops gaffer also jokingly quipped that even at 74 he himself could have scored on the night, but admits that his side have lots to improve on.

Martin O’Neill. Northern Ireland. October 1972. Photo IMAGO

He added: “You can’t just put the ball on a plate for people. They have to make room for themselves in the box to try to score. I said to the boys in the dressing-room afterwards, ‘I’m 74 and I think I could have scored a goal there’.

“Perhaps that’s a major exaggeration but we are still well short. The results have been fine and once we get players up to speed, it will be great.

“I’m delighted to have won the game but we have lots to improve on.

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Scottish Premiership St Johnstone versus Celtic; Sam Johnstone of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Martin also praised the influence of debutant keeper Sam Johnstone, whose terrific save was as good as a goal on the night. “St Johnstone were never out of the game and you have to remember Sam Johnstone had to make a great save at 0-0.”

The Celtic manager is right to demand more from his players and perhaps he could be doing with making similar improvement demands of the match officials who yet again denied Celtic a perfectly good goal last night. Viewers on Sky Sports had full sight of the ball and their footage confirmed that the ball did NOT go out of play.

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But it what was always going to be a tricky game, Celtic came down the road with the three points, our 13th consecutive win in the Scottish Premiership and attention can now turn to the Premier Sports Cup quarter final clash at Ibrox which will be played before an entirely home crowd. We can no doubt expect more ugly scenes and plenty of hatred.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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