Celtic's Win Over St. Johnstone: O’Neill's Critical Verdict
Celtic got the win. The performance told a different story.
A 1-0 victory over St. Johnstone on Wednesday kept the Hoops moving in the Scottish Premiership, yet it did little to satisfy head coach Martin O’Neill, who cut through the scoreline with a cold assessment of his side.
Celtic controlled the ball, holding 60% possession. They created enough to win the game comfortably, posting an expected goals tally of 2.22 to St. Johnstone’s 0.77. The pattern felt familiar: dominance on the ball, chances created, but a blunt edge in front of goal.
Fifteen shots. Nine on target. Only one goal.
The pressure eventually told, but not in the ruthless fashion O’Neill expects from a team chasing titles on multiple fronts.
The Big Call: Duran Benched
One decision stood out before a ball was kicked. Camilo Duran, Celtic’s in-form Colombian forward, dropped to the bench.
It was a bold move. Duran has been one of Celtic’s standout players since arriving in the summer from Qarabag for €5.5 million. His numbers back it up: nine goal contributions in nine games across the Premiership, League Cup and Champions League qualifiers – six goals and three assists.
He had been central to Celtic’s recent surge. Against Aberdeen on September 2, he scored and set one up. Three days later versus St. Mirren, he added another assist. He played 83 and 75 minutes in those matches. At McDiarmid Park, he was on the pitch for only 17.
O’Neill explained the call in blunt fashion on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard after the final whistle, tying his criticism of the display directly to the decision to rest Duran.
“(Camilo) Durán doesn't start for us. He's just been class, and he looked tired in the game against St Mirren. But I'm not surprised for the amount of things that he does for us, both with the ball, which is terrific, and also the work that he does off it,” O’Neill said.
Then came the line that will echo around the dressing room.
“He's second only to Daizen (Maeda) in terms of closing players down. So I wanted to try and see if we could do without him, and the answer is probably not.”
The message was unmistakable. Even with territory, pressure and control, Celtic did not look the same without Duran from the start. The forwards who came in did not convince their manager that they can shoulder the burden without the Colombian’s relentless movement and end product.
A Warning Before a Defining Run
The timing of O’Neill’s comments is no coincidence. Celtic are heading into a season-defining stretch in September, and he knows performances like this will not be enough.
Next up is Rangers. Twice.
On Sunday, September 13, the clubs collide in the Scottish League Cup quarterfinals. A week later, on September 20, they meet again in the Premiership’s seventh matchday. Both fixtures carry weight: one for silverware, the other for early-season control in the title race.
Celtic will go into those derbies without Yang Hyun-jun, who will be away on international duty at the Asian Games with South Korea. That removes another attacking option from O’Neill’s hand at the very moment the schedule tightens.
Wedged between those Old Firm clashes is the start of another campaign: Ferencvaros visit Celtic Park on September 17 in the opening matchday of the UEFA Europa League. Three high-stakes games in eight days, against two opponents who will punish any wastefulness.
O’Neill left Perth with three points, a clean sheet, and a nagging truth: this version of Celtic, misfiring despite dominance, will not be enough when the derbies arrive and Europe kicks off.
