St Mirren's superb start to the Scottish Premiership season was halted by a Celtic comeback at Paisley, with the visitors winning 2-1 after falling behind. The Buddies led at half-time through Nikolas Agrafiotis's penalty but conceded twice after the break to suffer their first defeat of the campaign, as reported by Daily Record Football.
How did St Mirren take the lead?
Martin O'Neill's side began with real purpose, not just tippy-tappy football. They earned a spot kick which Nikolas Agrafiotis converted to give them a 1-0 advantage at the interval. St Mirren created other chances too. Fraser Taylor saw a shot deflected just wide and Chris Mochrie skied a volley from a corner. Their positive approach contrasted with Celtic's first four matches, which had been pretty easy wins. This game showed it would not be a breeze for the Hoops this season.
Jacob Chapman in the St Mirren goal made key saves to preserve the lead. He tipped over a Callum McGregor shot and later blocked an effort from Duran. The team's current standings position of second place with 10 points from five games reflects their strong early form. They have scored eight goals and conceded five, giving them a +3 goal difference.
What turned the game for Celtic?
Celtic equalised early in the second half. Liam Scales, a constant threat who refused to hide, headed home from Nygren's corner. The winner came from Yang Hyun-jun, who finished after Duran created the chance. Celtic fans were gutted to see the Korean ace leave for the Asian Games soon after, describing it as a perfect parting gift. VAR played its part, disallowing one Celtic goal for offside and denying substitute Shim Mheuka due to a marginal call.
St Mirren pushed for an equaliser in a nervy finale where Celtic threw the kitchen sink at them. Luke Thomas missed a big chance when he slashed over the bar. The defeat leaves St Mirren five points behind leaders Celtic in the title race.
Who stood out for St Mirren?
Beyond the goalscorer Agrafiotis, goalkeeper Jacob Chapman's interventions were vital. Ismeal Kabia, the borrowed Arsenal youngster described as a flying machine, provided pace on the flank. The team's overall performance, even in defeat, demonstrated the style O'Neill is building. They now sit second in the Premiership with a record of three wins, one draw and one loss from their opening five fixtures.
Their recent form reads LWDWW. The squad is currently dealing with several absentees, including Keanu Baccus, Killian Phillips, Liam Donnelly and Malik Dijksteel, as listed on the club's injuries page.
What's next for St Mirren?
The focus shifts to recovering from this setback and preparing for the next challenge. St Mirren's next fixture is an away trip to face Dundee, who are sixth in the table, on December 26th, 2026. Fans can check the full schedule on the official fixtures page. The team will aim to bounce back and maintain their position near the top of the league.
