Mika Baur's first Celtic goal was enough for the champions to maintain their perfect start in the Scottish Premiership - but they made hard work of inflicting a first home defeat of the season on impressive St Johnstone.
Image source, SNSCeltic manager Martin O'Neill: "A win is a win. I'm not sure what to make of it, really. We could've scored a number of goals, particularly after we scored.
"It's difficult to score goals, there's no question about it. We made it look impossible. Delighted to have won the game. Lots to still improve on.
"We've got to get players into the penalty box to score goals. If you're sitting outside, you'll not get it.
"Once we got the goal, which obviously gave us momentum, I felt we were kind of strong there for a good period of the game but never able to put the game beyond St Johnstone.
"We really had to up the tempo [in the second half]. Sometimes, our play was a wee bit laborious. St Johnstone had a major chance in the game [with Joel Cotterill], Sam Johnstone makes a fantastic save. Otherwise, we're a goal behind. He did very well. He looked commanding, which is nice to see."
Image source, SNSShim Mheuka has shrugged off his European omission to focus on becoming a domestic star for Celtic.
The 18-year-old striker has been left out of Celtic's Europa League squad along with fellow Chelsea loanee Landon Emenalo and newly-signed Dutch midfielder Joel van den Berg.
"No, it's football for me. My my focus is on the domestic games and doing what I can for the team," said Mheuka.
"Wherever I'm asked to play or wherever I'm asked to be, that's what I'll do. I just give my 100% into that.
"So, no, never really any disappointment, just doing my best wherever wherever I am."
England youth international Mheuka has made two Celtic appearances off the bench and was denied a first goal for the club when his strike against St Mirren last weekend was disallowed for offside.
The striker - who "looks a player" according to manager Martin O'Neill - is determined to stake a claim for regular action.
Before Celtic's Premiership match at St Johnstone on Wednesday night, Mheuka said: "I'm just focused on playing and training, trying to get into that team and come on and make an impact whenever I can.
"When you come on, in your mind, you want to try and take that one opportunity that might come to you.
"It's just about staying positive whenever you can, always believe in putting yourself in the right positions and, ultimately, I'll get chances.
"You can't get anywhere without self-belief. We're all in positions where you want to be because of how confident we are in our abilities and how much we believe in ourselves."
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone could hand a debut to on-loan Hibernian midfielder Josh Campbell but attacker Jamie Gullan is out with a minor groin issue.
Celtic will assess Kasper Hogh and Kieran Tierney after their return to training. Yang Hyun-jun has left for the Asian Games, while Callum Osmand (ankle) remains out and Jota is building up his fitness after a long-term knee injury.
The injured Landon Emenalo is still to arrive from Chelsea.
Tomas Cvancara says he will "never forget" last season's loan spell at Celtic and has "beautiful memories". (Glasgow Times), external
Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSMartin O'Neill has been speaking to the media before Celtic visit St Johnstone in the Premiership on Wednesday (20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from the Celtic boss:
Striker Kasper Hogh has been back in training the past couple of days and fellow injury absentee Kieran Tierney returned to work with the squad this morning. Both are in contention for the game, with Hogh the likelier, while there are "a couple of other fitness issues for players".
O'Neill has high hopes for Chelsea loan striker Shim Mheuka, who was denied a goal in the weekend win over St Mirren by a contentious offside decision.
"I expect him to do well. He looks a player," says O'Neill of the 18-year-old. "I wouldn't want to be throwing a host of accolades in someone's direction if they're not up for it, but I think he's definitely capable."
With Hogh, Mheuka, Camilo Duran and Callum Osmand, O'Neill says Celtic "definitely have better options up front than we had last season". He adds that last term he was "wondering where the goals were going to come from".
South Korea winger Yang Hyun-jun will be a "big miss" for Celtic when he is absent for the next four games because of Asian Games duty. O'Neill continues: "He's playing exceptionally well for what he does with the ball. It's terrific, he's scored a couple of very important goals for us. And what he's doing without the ball, I don't think anybody could question his workrate. He's been great since I've come in here. I think he's just responded to a bit of encouragement."
O'Neill is not allowing himself to look ahead to Sunday's derby with Rangers in the League Cup quarter-final, insisting Wednesday's game in Perth is "far more important" for the defending Premiership champions.
The loan arrival of Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone provides "very important" competition for Viljami Sinisalo, with O'Neill insisting "goalkeepers should be challenged".
O'Neill says it is "really pleasing" Johnstone wants to be Celtic number one: "It's not that long ago he was involved with the England squad. He's determined, he's looked really good in training, and at some stage he will get into a game because it will be necessary for him."
O'Neill praises Simo Valakari's "really talented" St Johnstone, adding: "It's nice to see them. They want to play football as well and they're committed. There's a vitality about them which is very encouraging. Not dissimilar in many aspects to what Craig McLeish is doing at St Mirren."
Image source, SNSNick Walsh has been confirmed as the referee for the first Old Firm derby of the season on Sunday as Rangers and Celtic vie for a League Cup semi-final place.
Walsh will be assisted at Ibrox by Daniel McFarlane and Frank Connor, with Kevin Clancy the fourth official.
Andrew Dallas is on Video Assistant Referee duty, supported by Steven McLean.
Walsh took charge of two Old Firm derbies last season, with Celtic winning the League Cup semi-final 3-1 after extra time at Hampden in November - where Thelo Aasgaard was sent off in the first half - before a crucial 3-1 league win at Celtic Park in May.
St Johnstone won their last home league game against Celtic 1-0 in April 2025, ending a 13-game losing run at home to the Hoops in the Scottish Premiership. The Saints last beat Celtic in successive home league matches in April 1999 (run of three).
Celtic have won 23 of their past 26 meetings with St Johnstone in all competitions (D2 L1), most recently a 5-0 Scottish Cup semi-final victory in 2024-25.
Newly-promoted sides are winless in 37 Premiership games against reigning champions (D6 L31) since Hibernian beat Celtic 2-1 in April 2018.
St Johnstone have only won two of their past 12 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) top-flight games (D5 L5), beating Aberdeen 2-0 in February 2024 and Ross County 1-0 in February 2025.
Celtic have won 23 of their past 25 league games played on a Wednesday, the exceptions being a 4-2 defeat to Hibs in May 2023 and 2-1 loss to Dundee United in December 2025.
Liverpool will let left-back Luke Chambers go on loan in January, with Celtic keen on the 22-year-old as a long-term project. (Anything Liverpool, external)
Celtic have been informed by the Colombian Football Federation that striker Camilo Duran, 24, will be called up for forthcoming friendlies against Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. (Pipe Sierra, external)
Meanwhile, Celtic winger Jota, 27, could return from long-term injury earlier than expected, having been forecast to return in late October. (Record - subscription required, external)
St Johnstone will not go out to be defensive when Celtic visit on Wednesday. (Courier - subscription required, external)
Frosinone president Maurizio Stirpe says he wanted to sell Celtic and Rangers target Fares Ghedjemis, 24, this summer but the club's American owners blocked a potential transfer for the Algeria winger. (Daily Record - subscription required, external)
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Scott Bain (Falkirk): Will he be Sebastien Pocognoli's Scotland number one? He did himself no harm against Dundee United.
Dujon Sterling (Rangers): Strong showing from the versatile defender in the weekend win over Motherwell.
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic): Another impressive display at the back, winning 12 of his 14 duels in the victory at St Mirren.
Michael Forbes (Dundee United): Big goal to earn a point against Falkirk at Tannadice.
Jordi Altena (Hearts): A fine display at Tynecastle. Brave on the ball and at his best getting forward in the comeback win over Dundee.
Dan Neil (Rangers): Maybe his best game for Rangers since joining the club; good on and off the ball.
Jason Holt (St Johnstone): A 95% passing completion rate from the evergreen midfielder against Hibernian.
Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic): Another goal to underline his growing importance to this Celtic side.
Camilo Duran (Celtic): Perhaps the signing of the season so far - the Colombian always makes things happen and proved his worth again in Paisley.
Josh Fowler (St Johnstone): Both goals to sink Hibs from the former Queen's Park man; on another day he could have had a hat-trick.
Djeidi Gassama (Rangers): A tremendous display overall from a player who might finally be finding consistency at Ibrox.
Image source, Getty ImagesCeltic made a late approach for Blackburn Rovers' attacking midfielder Ryoya Morishita, 29, with the two clubs also discussing a loan deal for Reo Hatate, who went on to join Burnley. (Alan Nixon on Patreon - subscription required), external
Watch all the highlights from Celtic's narrow 2-1 victory at St Mirren, including two disallowed goals for the visitors. Available to UK users only.
Celtic fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's narrow win in Paisley made it five wins in five in the Scottish Premiership.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Keith: Celtic churning out another three points. A sixth league title seems inevitable.
Joe: Celtic will not progress in Europe with this team. Mika Baur, Haissem Hassan, Liam Scales etc. are not up to European standards - they're second or third rate players.
Alec: Another struggle to break down a well-organised team but glad to see us playing quicker and on the front foot. Standard definitely dropped when subs were made. Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren look lost when they haven't got someone protecting them and Oliver Sorensen look woefully of the pace and out of his depth just now.
Ian: Great result against a very good St Mirren team. Higher tempo second half was the difference, with Yang Hyun-Jun leading the line. He'll be a big miss next weekend.
Brian: Very gritty performance by Celtic against a very aggressive opponent, great to see new players settling into system so quickly.
John: Why is Scales still at Celtic Park? He is a liability, passable going forward, but no good at all under pressure. Anthony Ralston another one not nearly good enough for Celtic.
Celtic new boy Oliver Sorensen has a similar "energy and hunger" to Kieran Tierney, according to the club's former defender Erik Sviatchenko, who played with Sorensen at Midtjylland. (Daily Record), external
Champions Celtic made it five Scottish Premiership wins out of five and consigned St Mirren to a season's first league defeat after coming from behind in Paisley.
Image source, SNSCeltic manager Martin O'Neill: "I'm delighted that we've won the game. St Mirren played really splendidly as we thought they would do and caused us loads and loads of problems.
"We did create a number of chances. I thought that perhaps we didn't have the fluency that we've had in other games. On the break, we were very, very dangerous.
"Overall, there were some sparkling moments from us and some moments where we had a total contrast. We took the game in the end. I think for the chances we created probably deserved it but we can improve."
Image source, SNSCeltic striker Camilo Duran is dreaming of a Colombia call-up after a blistering start to life in Glasgow.
The 24-year-old, who has featured for Colombia at youth level, has already scored six goals in seven games for Celtic and set up a further two.
And now he's got an eye on a place in the senior international squad, which the forward feels he is getting closer to achieving.
"As everyone knows I came here and my dream is to win a lot of titles," he said. "And also to go to the Colombian national team, which is my dream.
"I know that if I continue to work this way, I'll be there soon."
Duran has quickly become a fans' favourite at Parkhead, with supporters at the weekend repurposing a song used for former Celt Scott Sinclair with the new attacker's name.
And the Colombian is feeling the love from the stands.
"I didn't even know they had a song for me but when I heard it I'm happy because I've felt their love from the start and their backing from the stands is very special," he added.
"Every time I go out on the pitch, I try to repay that."
Duran joined Celtic from Qarabag in the summer and while a spot in the national team and winning silverware is his dream, he's constantly thinking about his family.
"My dad, my brother, my sister who's in Colombia, they follow all the games," he said.
"I even talk to them before the game and they wish me good luck, and for me it's an honour to be here, and every time I go out on the pitch I think about them, and I'm happy that they've always supported me."
