Celtic Breakthrough Against St Johnstone While Rangers Struggle
Celtic finally cracked St Johnstone’s resistance, while Rangers were left walking a tightrope against a confident St Mirren side on a nervy night packed with half-chances and rising frustration.
Baur Delivers as Celtic Turn the Screw
At McDiarmid Park, you could feel it building.
St Johnstone had just been warned. Former manager Callum Davidson, watching on for BBC Sportsound, could sense the shift as Celtic began to hem the hosts in.
“I was just about to say St Johnstone need to just hold on in this little period because Celtic were building a bit of pressure there,” he said. “Unfortunately they didn't. Much better from Celtic.”
The pressure told.
Celtic, who had already seen captain Callum McGregor step up and drive a shot from the edge of the box straight into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Toby Steward after a deflection, finally flooded the area with bodies. This time, they made it count.
Haissem Hassan drove a low ball across the face of goal. Kasper Hogh flung himself at it, desperate to make contact. He missed – but lurking behind him was Mika Baur, perfectly placed and composed. One clean touch. Tap-in. Breakthrough.
Pat Bonner, the former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC duty, cut straight to the point.
“They had bodies in the box, that's the difference,” he said. “There Baur was and all he had to do was get a good contact. Good play from Hassan.”
It was Baur’s first goal for Celtic, a simple finish born from a spell of sustained pressure and smarter movement in the final third. St Johnstone had been warned. They couldn’t ride it out.
Rangers Rocked by St Mirren Threat as Ibrox Grows Restless
Across the country, the mood at Ibrox was far more volatile.
Rangers and St Mirren were locked at 0-0, but the scoreline barely told the story of the tension. The home fans tried to lift their side, the noise rising as they sensed the need for a spark. Then Rangers coughed up possession in their own defensive third, and the mood snapped from backing to biting.
This felt fragile. It could go either way.
St Mirren, growing in belief, carved out the kind of chance managers dream about and forwards replay in their heads for weeks.
The move was outstanding. One incisive pass sliced through the entire Rangers defence, and none of the home players reacted. Fraser Taylor surged clear, straight through on goal with the game at his mercy.
“What a move,” said former Rangers and St Mirren striker Rory Loy on BBC Sportsound. “The pass takes out the whole Rangers defence and none of the home players react. Fraser Taylor is straight through. He has to put his team 1-0 up. Maybe he has too much time to think about, but it's a glorious opportunity spurned.”
It felt huge. And it wasn’t an isolated warning.
“Oh my goodness,” came the reaction as Taylor burst in again. “St Mirren will not get a better chance tonight. Surely.”
Another third-man run, another clean break. Taylor had time, space, and the angle to pick his spot. Ivor Pandur, though, held his ground, stayed high on his line, and made the save. A massive stop. A reprieve for Rangers.
St Mirren, far from clinging on, looked the calmer side after the break.
“St Mirren have looked far more comfortable in this second half and the rumblings are coming from the Rangers fans,” Loy noted. With changes made, Rangers shifted back to a 4-2-3-1 shape, Kim and Curtis introduced to try to regain control and structure.
The shape changed. The mood didn’t. The anxiety in the stands told its own story.
With Celtic finding a way and Rangers living dangerously, the question hangs in the air: who will handle nights like these better when the season reaches its sharpest edge?
