Mika Baur the Celtic match winner as Bhoys make it six wins from six | OneFootball

Summer signing Mika Baur scored his first goal in a Celtic jersey and what a time for him to do so!

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

The German’s strike from close range after an hour of Celtic frustration with St Johnstone handling everything Celtic could throw at them.

The decisive goal came after a delightful Haissem Hassan assist that earned the team all three points in what was a difficult encounter in Perth against a well organised St Johnstone side.

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Perth, 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

Special mention also to goalkeeper Sam Johnstone who was selected in favour of Viljami Sinisalo, and the England international showed all his class as he pulled of a terrific first half stop to deny the home side the opener against the run of play.

It will be interesting to see which of the two will be in goals for Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday but speaking on Sky Sports pundit James McFadden was adamant that Sam Johnstone will now be the man with the Celtic gloves for the foreseeable.

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

Martin O’Neill will be pleased with a hard earned win, especially with the likes of Cameron Carter Vickers, Kieran Tierney, Camilo Duran, and Benjamin Nygren all absent from the starting XI. All four should be in the starting XI at Ibrox on Sunday, with perhaps the only doubt relating to the American defender but Martin O’Neill despite his own concerns said after the match that CCV should be fine to start.

With a double header against the latest version of Rangers impending, as well a hugely important Europa League clash with Ferencvaros sandwiched in between, a shuffle of the playing pack was to be expected last night.

So having done than and still picked up the three points – the first team to take anything from McDiarmid Park this season – Martin O’Neill can afford to be satisfied.

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Scottish Premiership St Johnstone versus Celtic; Dane Murray of Celtic on the ball. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

As well as Sam Johnstone starting in goal, other changes saw Dane Murray take his place alongside Auston Trusty in the centre of defence, with Oliver Sorensen starting in the midfield and Sebastian Tounekti deputising for Yang who is currently on international duty at the Asian Cup with South Korea.

It should have been a more comfortable ending, as yet again we had a goal disallowed after the intervention of VAR, but much like Saturday evening’s clash in Paisley, the decision was shrouded in both controversy and skullduggery as far as the Celtic support could see.

At the game it’s difficult to tell but Sky Sports clearly showed that the ball did NOT go out of play. Yet again the VAR decisions are going against Celtic on a night when St Mirren were denied a stonewall penalty at Ibrox.

Sebastian Tounekti’s cross was deemed to have crossed the byline on route to Haissem Hassan to stroke the ball into the net via a Kasper Hogh header. Despite the VAR replays not being conclusive, it was quickly and conveniently agreed to stick to the on-field decision.

If only that were the case on Saturday evening at St Mirren eh?

In the end it didn’t matter, as Celtic deservedly earned all three points to make it six wins out of six in the Scottish Premiership.

Wille Collum will be along on Friday afternoon for his VAR review and he will no doubt provide us all with clarity on the incidents at Paisley, Perth and Ibrox over the past few days.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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