Mika Baur Secures Celtic Win in Perth 2026

Key Points

• Baur scored the first goal of his career for Celtic in the 52nd minute to give his team a 1-0 win against St Johnstone in McDiarmid Park.
• This victory means that Celtic now have six wins from six games to start off the new Scottish Premiership season in perfect form.
• Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone kept the game scoreless in the first half of the match with some important saves on his debut.
• Celtic were under pressure in the latter stages of the first half from St Johnstone, however Martin O’Neill’s men managed to get through this.
• There was controversy in the second half when Haissem Hassan’s goal was disallowed for offside, as the referee deemed that the ball had gone out of play.
• This win sees Celtic still top of the table before they face Rangers in the quarter-finals of the League Cup at Ibrox.

Perth (Glasgow Express) September 10, 2026 —Celtic extended their flawless domestic run to six consecutive victories in the Scottish Premiership following a gritty 1-0 triumph over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, courtesy of a second-half strike from summer signing Mika Baur. In a match defined by tactical shifts and resilient defensive work, Martin O’Neill’s side managed to break down a stubborn home resistance to maintain their pristine record at the top of the league table.

How did Mika Baur secure the victory for Celtic against St Johnstone?

The decisive moment of the encounter arrived four minutes after the interval. As reported by Matthew Campbell of Celtic FC, the attacking sequence was initiated by Sebastian Tounekti, whose cross into the penalty area was cleanly brought down and laid off by Kasper Høgh to Haissem Hassan. Hassan maneuvered past defender Cheick Diabate before driving towards the by-line and flashing a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, presenting Baur with an open opportunity that the midfielder clinically converted to register his maiden goal in the Hoops.

Reflecting on his milestone moment during an interview with CelticView Editor Paul Cuddihy, Mika Baur stated:

“It was a tap-in and not that special, but I’m very, very happy that I scored the winning goal. And in the end, it was a deserved win.”

Baur further analyzed the team’s tactical progression during his chat with Paul Cuddihy, adding:

“We had a tough first half and we can thank Sam [Johnstone]. He was brilliant, so it was down to him that it was 0-0 at half-time. Then in the second half we did much better. We created chances, we played faster and we had a better position during the game.”

What happened during the tense first half at McDiarmid Park?

Celtic started the fixture on the front foot, applying immense pressure on the home defence. As detailed by Matthew Campbell of Celtic FC, Haissem Hassan came close to opening the scoring as early as the fifth minute with a sharp shot from inside the box, which St Johnstone goalkeeper Toby Steward brilliantly pushed wide for a corner.

Despite Celtic dominating possession throughout the opening 45 minutes, Simo Valakari’s St Johnstone side grew increasingly dangerous as the interval approached, capitalizing on slack clearances from the visiting back-line. On the 20-minute mark, Joel Cotterill engineered a massive scoring opportunity with a well-struck effort from inside the area, only for debutant Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to produce a stunning fingertip save over the crossbar.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Celtic captain Callum McGregor also threatened when a cross from Mika Baur went uncleared, but his goal-bound attempt was deflected behind for a corner. Johnstone was forced into action again early in the second period, thwarting a powerful strike from St Johnstone’s Taylor Steven to preserve parity.

Were there any controversial VAR or refereeing decisions in the match?

Controversy surfaced shortly after the hour mark when Celtic thought they had doubled their advantage. Haissem Hassan slotted home from midway inside the penalty area, but the linesman’s flag instantly halted celebrations. The stand-side official judged that the ball had crossed the by-line before being headed down to Hassan.

LiveScore analysts covering the match noted further talking points regarding officiating standards across the weekend fixtures, highlighting that television replays suggested the ball may not have gone out of play. Regardless of the debatable decision, the visitors successfully protected their narrow lead through to the final whistle.

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How did late game management unfold for Martin O’Neill’s side?

As the match entered its closing stages, Celtic searched for a cushion to kill off the fixture. James Forrest, striving to extend his remarkable scoring run to 18 consecutive professional seasons, came close in the 77th minute with a clever sequence of step-overs on the edge of the box that drew a fine diving save from Toby Steward.

Kasper Høgh similarly missed an opportunity to mark his return in the 83rd minute, denied by Steward’s legs after defensive hesitation from St Johnstone. With five minutes remaining, manager Martin O’Neill introduced fresh legs, bringing on Kieran Tierney and Shumaira Mheuka to replace Liam Scales and Kasper Høgh. Mheuka nearly added a second deep into stoppage time, but Steward stood firm once more, leaving the final score at 1-0.

Background of the particular development

The 1-0 victory over St Johnstone marks a significant continuation of Celtic’s domestic dominance under the guidance of Martin O’Neill. Coming into the 2026–27 campaign, the club prioritized squad depth and tactical flexibility, incorporating emerging young talents and international additions like Mika Baur and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. St Johnstone, playing under Simo Valakari, have experienced an encouraging run of form following a morale-boosting win against Hibernian, making them a formidable test at McDiarmid Park. Historically, matches in Perth have frequently proven challenging for visiting Old Firm sides due to tight defensive setups and physical duels, rendering a clean sheet and three points vital for Celtic’s title-defence strategy.

This hard-fought win and the introduction of in-form contributors like Mika Baur heavily impact the squad dynamics and morale as Celtic approach a demanding fixture schedule. For the players, coaching staff, and travelling supporters, securing six successive league wins builds a robust psychological cushion at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. However, the narrow margin of victory also highlights areas of vulnerability in defensive clearances that opponents can exploit. Looking forward, this development sets an intense, competitive tone for 22-year-old Mika Baur ahead of his maiden Glasgow derby appearance against Rangers in the upcoming League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, an environment where pressure will be magnified and squad resilience tested to its absolute limit.