Match Centre

Celtic's narrow 1-0 victory at McDiarmid Park was a fair reflection of their control, with the visitors recording a significantly higher shot count (15 vs 9) and shots on target (9 vs 3). Mika Baur's 52nd-minute strike, assisted by Haissem Hassan, proved decisive in a match where Celtic's 60% possession translated into superior chance creation.

The xG breakdown suggests St Johnstone struggled to convert their limited opportunities, with just 3 shots on target from 6 attempts inside the box. Celtic's shot distribution was more dangerous - 13 of their 15 attempts came from high-value areas, reflected in their 11 corner count versus Saints' 2. The hosts' defensive resilience (8 saves from Steward) kept the score respectable, but their lack of attacking threat (0 offsides, just 2 corners) highlighted Celtic's defensive control.

The key differential came in chance quality - Celtic generated nearly double the shots on target (9 vs 3) while restricting St Johnstone to just 9 total attempts, with only 33% testing the keeper. Baur's winner came during Celtic's most dominant period, with the visitors registering 5 shots on target between the 45th and 60th minutes.