Celtic secured a commanding 3-0 victory over St. Mirren at Celtic Park on Sunday, re-establishing their dominance at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Hoops went through changes following their first league defeat of the season against Rangers just days prior. Manager Brendan Rodgers made four changes to the starting lineup, bringing over fresh faces, including Auston Trusty, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, and Adam Idah, hoping for a quick recovery and return to form.
Celtic was eager to revert to winning ways, and the match kicked off at 3 p.m. local time, drawing fans with high expectations after their previous setback. Celtic had defeated St. Mirren 3-0 earlier this season at Paisley, and spirits were high as they sought to repeat their success.
It took 33 minutes for Celtic to break the deadlock through Nicolas Kuhn, who slyly converted Daizen Maeda's cross with clinical precision. The opening goal came after some sturdy resistance from St. Mirren, who had effectively pressed their hosts and created few clear opportunities for Celtic.
Ten minutes later, Trusty marked his impact with a header from Arne Engels' corner, doubling the lead and putting the champions firmly in control before halftime. By this stage, the momentum had shifted, and their comfortable lead prompted St. Mirren to lose confidence.
The second half saw Celtic continuing to apply pressure, and more pressure paid off when Kuhn struck again after 68 minutes. A mix-up between St. Mirren’s goalkeeper Zach Hemming and his defenders offered Kuhn the perfect chance to pounce and score his second goal of the match.
Despite St. Mirren's struggles, their manager Stephen Robinson acknowledged the initial strength of his side's tactics. "I never felt like we were under any threat at times," he admitted. "After the second goal, the players seemed to drain of confidence, and it showed with the mistakes leading to the third goal. We need to shore up our defense if we want to maintain our position within the top six."
Celtic's victory solidified their lead at the top of the table, moving 13 points clear. Kuhn's brace marked his 16th goal of the season, and his overall contribution, including 11 assists, continues to make him one of the standout players this campaign.
Rodgers praised his squad's effort and response following their derby defeat. "It was a very good afternoon for us. The quality the players showed was at a really good level," he reflected post-match. With Kuhn’s dynamic play causing trouble throughout, supporters began to see echoes of the club's significant past, where playmakers turned matches.
Celtic's performance statistics illustrated their dominance on the pitch, with 11 shots and 6 on target compared to St. Mirren's 6 shots and just 1 on target. The home side commanded 31 touches within the opponent's box, forcing Hemming, who was making his first start back on loan to St. Mirren, to make several saves during the match. Despite some bright moments, St. Mirren's struggles were evident as their defensive frailties surfaced regularly.
Following this victory, Celtic will look to continue their form as they prepare to host Dundee United on January 8, with preparations already underway. Their recent unbeaten streak, now slightly re-established, hopes for another lengthy run is within reach. St. Mirren, on the other hand, faces significant pressure to regain momentum following three league losses, having plummeted to sixth place.
The match featured physicality, illustrated by St. Mirren’s struggle to contain Celtic's attacking prowess as they committed eight fouls against the home side’s six, reflecting the relentless pressure Celtic managed throughout the proceedings. Rodgers acknowledged this as he emphasized the need not to become complacent moving forward.
Looking at past meetings, Celtic showcased their excellent track record against St. Mirren, winning all their last six encounters. They now set their eyes on future matches, confident and bolstered by this latest triumph. The historical odds were firmly stacked against St. Mirren, who last achieved victory against Celtic away from home back in January 2021.
The next Scottish Premiership encounters on January 8 will see St. Mirren aim to recover against Dundee United, hoping to return to form and regain footing within the league.
Celtic's relentless chasing of another championship title continues to build momentum, with fans hoping for another season filled with titanic victories and memorable moments. With key players like Kuhn leading the way, it seems the sky is the limit for Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops.