Celtic 1-0 St. Mirren: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Celtic 1-0 St. Mirren in the Premiership on Sunday, 03 August 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Celtic secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St. Mirren at home, a result that keeps their early season momentum going. The match was decided late on by a goal from L. McCowan in the 87th minute, which came after a series of substitutions and a disallowed goal for Celtic due to handball. Despite the narrow margin, Celtic's dominance was evident throughout the game, as they controlled possession and created numerous scoring opportunities. This win extends Celtic's unbeaten run, showcasing their resilience and ability to grind out results even when not at their best.

St. Mirren, on the other hand, put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short. They managed to keep the score line close despite being on the back foot for much of the match. The loss is a setback for St. Mirren, who will need to regroup quickly as they look to climb the league table. Key moments like the yellow cards and substitutions indicate a team that was trying to disrupt Celtic's rhythm, but it wasn't enough to prevent the late heartbreak.

The statistics from the match clearly reflect Celtic's dominance, with 76% possession and a total of 14 shots compared to St. Mirren's 4. Celtic's 12 corners to St. Mirren's 1 further underline their control over the game. Despite these figures, the score line remained tight, which might suggest that Celtic were not as clinical as they could have been in front of goal. The high number of fouls committed by Celtic (10) and the two yellow cards they received indicate a physical battle, but overall, the stats align well with the result, showing Celtic's superiority on the day.

The turning point of the match came in the 87th minute when L. McCowan scored the decisive goal for Celtic, securing all three points. This goal was crucial as it came after a series of substitutions by both teams, with Celtic making five changes throughout the game. One notable moment was the disallowed goal for Celtic in the 67th minute due to a handball by C. McGregor, which could have changed the game's complexion had it stood. The yellow cards shown to A. Idah and A. Engels for Celtic, and R. Idowu for St. Mirren, added to the tension but did not alter the final outcome.

St. Mirren's key moments were largely defensive, with their substitutions aimed at shoring up their backline and trying to disrupt Celtic's flow. The yellow card to R. Idowu just before halftime was a significant moment, as it could have affected their strategy in the second half. Despite their efforts, St. Mirren couldn't prevent the late goal that ultimately decided the match. Their substitutions in the final stages were a last-ditch attempt to salvage a point, but it was not to be.

Celtic lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Kasper Schmeichel in goal and a backline of Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, and Kieran Tierney. The midfield trio of Callum McGregor, Adam Idah, and Daizen Maeda provided the engine room, while Yang Hyun-Jun, Benjamin Nygren, and Reo Hatate led the attack. The lineup was largely as expected, with no major surprises. The impact of the substitutions, particularly the introduction of L. McCowan, who scored the winning goal, was crucial. The team's performance was solid, with the players showing good chemistry and resilience.

St. Mirren opted for a 5-3-2 formation, with Shamal George in goal and a defensive line consisting of Jayden Richardson, Marcus Fraser, Alexander Gogić, Richard King, and Declan John. The midfield was anchored by Roland Idowu, Killian Phillips, and Mark O'Hara, with Mikael Mandron and Fraser Taylor up front. The line-up was set up to be defensively solid, but the team struggled to contain Celtic's attacking prowess. The substitutions made by St. Mirren were aimed at bolstering their defence, but they couldn't prevent the late goal. Overall, the team showed effort but lacked the cutting edge needed to secure a result.

Daizen Maeda is Coral’s Man of the Match for his pivotal role in Celtic's victory over St. Mirren. Despite not scoring, Maeda's contribution was significant, with 1 assist and 3 key passes that helped drive Celtic's attack. His ability to create chances and influence the game's flow was crucial, even if he didn't directly contribute to the winning goal. Maeda's performance exemplified the hard work and creativity that Celtic needed to secure the win.

Recent Premiership matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs St. Mirren (H)

Recent Premiership matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Celtic (A)

Sitting in 2nd place with 3 points, Celtic will look to build on this victory when they face Aberdeen, who are in 9th place, on August 10, 2025, at 11:30. This result should boost their confidence, and they will likely approach the game with a focus on maintaining their momentum and improving their league standing.

Aberdeen V Celtic SPL Game Week 2

With a current league position of 12th and 0 points, St. Mirren will need to regroup quickly before their next match against Motherwell, who are in 4th place with 1.0 points, on August 09, 2025, at 15:00. This loss might prompt them to reassess their strategy and focus on tightening up defensively to avoid similar results in future games.

St. Mirren V Motherwell

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