In a stunning turn of events at McDiarmid Park, St Johnstone pulled off a remarkable upset by defeating Celtic 1-0 in a crucial Scottish Premiership match on April 6, 2025. With this victory, St Johnstone not only halted their dismal run against the league leaders but also injected new life into their battle against relegation.
The match began with an electrifying start as Daniels Balodis scored the only goal just four minutes in, heading in from a well-placed free-kick by Graham Carey. This marked Balodis' first goal for St Johnstone and set the tone for a match that would see the hosts defend with tenacity against the relentless pressure from Celtic.
Celtic, who came into the game needing just two more wins to secure their fourth consecutive title, found themselves caught cold and struggling to find their rhythm. Despite their dominant position in the league, they failed to convert numerous opportunities throughout the match, leaving fans bewildered by their performance.
St Johnstone's goalkeeper, Andy Fisher, was in outstanding form, making a series of crucial saves that kept his team in the lead. He finished the match with an impressive nine saves, including a spectacular stop against James Forrest in the dying moments of the game that could have equalized for Celtic.
As the game progressed, Celtic's frustration grew. Reo Hatate came close to leveling the score when he rattled the post with a powerful shot, while Jota squandered a clear chance, sending his effort over the crossbar from a promising position. The visitors dominated possession and created more chances overall, boasting an expected goals (xG) of 2.2 compared to St Johnstone's 0.58, yet they were unable to find the back of the net.
In a match that was filled with tension, Celtic's best chance to equalize came in the 81st minute when Forrest found himself with a clear sight of goal from just six yards out. However, he fluffed his shot, allowing Fisher to block the effort and preserve St Johnstone's lead. This miss epitomized Celtic's struggles throughout the match, as they repeatedly failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
St Johnstone's victory was particularly significant given their recent history against Celtic. Prior to this match, they had not won in their last 31 encounters with the Glasgow giants, drawing four and losing 27, with their last league win against Celtic dating back to May 2016. The win also marked a rare defeat for Celtic at McDiarmid Park, where they had previously enjoyed an impressive record, winning their last 15 away matches against St Johnstone by an aggregate score of 48-9.
Despite their triumph, St Johnstone remains at the bottom of the league, five points adrift of Dundee as they continue to fight for survival. The victory, however, provides a glimmer of hope as they look to build on this momentum. The team displayed a commendable collective effort, with even the ball boys getting involved in time-wasting tactics to help secure the win.
As for Celtic, this defeat means they will have to wait longer to seal their title. They were set to face Kilmarnock next weekend, where a win would have seen them mathematically secure the Scottish Premiership crown. Now, with the gap at the top remaining at 13 points, they will need to regroup quickly. After Rangers lost to Hibernian the day before, Celtic missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead and clinch the title.
Brendan Rodgers, Celtic's manager, expressed his disappointment after the match, emphasizing the need for his players to learn from their mistakes. "It was an unbelievable and unacceptable performance for the champions-in-waiting," he stated. "We had the chance to seal the title and we blew it. We need to be more clinical and composed in front of goal."
With six matches left to play this season, Celtic still has the chance to secure the title, but they must improve their performance significantly. The pressure is mounting as they prepare for their next fixture, and fans will be eagerly anticipating how they respond to this unexpected setback.
In summary, St Johnstone's victory over Celtic serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football. It highlights the importance of every match, especially for teams fighting against relegation. As the season progresses, both teams will have to navigate their respective challenges, with St Johnstone looking to build on this momentum and Celtic needing to bounce back to reclaim their dominance in the league.
