Scottish Premiership
Sunday, January 5, 2025
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…3
(Kuhn 33 & 68, Trusty 43)

ST MIRREN…0

The lights may have temporarily gone out in the East End of Glasgow this afternoon but the Celts lit up Paradise as they got back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over St Mirren thanks to goals from Auston Trusty and a double from Nicolas Kuhn.

The champions started the match at a fierce pace, piling pressure on the visitors from the start and with less than two minutes played, Adam Idah almost opened the scoring when Arne Engels sent a good cross in to the box, but Idah’s header crept just wide of the post.

Celtic continued to hunt for the opener, winning a number of corners and sending some tempting balls in to the penalty area. The combination of Nicolas Kuhn and Alistair Johnston on the right wing caused all sorts of problems for the St Mirren defence, with the visitors unable to cope with the passing, pace and movement of the pair.

Dangerous crosses from Arne Engels were a theme throughout the first 45 minutes, and would, eventually, pay dividends for the Celts. And the Belgian was unlucky not to score direct from a corner just after the 20-minute mark, with Zac Hemming forced to tip Engels’ cross over the bar.

The Hoops were rewarded for their impressive start with just over half-an-hour played when Luke McCowan sent a perfect ball out to the left wing and in to the path of Daizen Maeda.

The Japanese winger had a look up, spotted Nicolas Kuhn in the box and fired the ball in towards the German’s feet. He made no mistake as he tucked the ball underneath Hemming and in to the back of the net to give the champions a deserved lead.

And 10 minutes later, the Celts’ advantage was doubled. This time, the crossing ability of Arne Engels shone through as he whipped a ball in from the corner which was met by Auston Trusty.

The American rose highest in the penalty area and thundered a header in to the back of the net, his first Celtic goal and a goal which gave the Hoops a firm grip on the match.

Celts get back to winning ways with 3-0 victory at Paradise