Celtic bounced back from their first league defeat of the season with a commanding 3-0 victory over St Mirren, extending their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership. The star of the show was winger Nicolas Kuhn, who netted a brace in a performance that further solidified his importance to the team. The German forward, who joined Celtic from Rapid Vienna in January 2023, has been in scintillating form this season, and his two goals in this match brought his tally to 16 for the campaign.
Celtic’s victory was a crucial one, as it allowed the defending champions to move 13 points clear of their nearest rivals in the league. Despite some early resistance from St Mirren, who pressed high and kept the hosts at bay for over 30 minutes, Celtic eventually wore them down. Kuhn’s first-half opener was followed by an Auston Trusty header before the German winger scored again in the second half after a mistake from St Mirren goalkeeper Zach Hemming.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was full of praise for Kuhn, calling his contribution “really impressive” and suggesting that the 24-year-old still has more to give. With this performance, Celtic took full advantage of Rangers’ slip-up against Hibernian, ensuring they could further extend their lead at the summit.
Nicolas Kuhn’s Form: A Player Coming Into His Own
Nicolas Kuhn’s performance against St Mirren was another demonstration of his growing influence at Celtic. The 24-year-old winger has been one of the standout players for the club this season, and his brace against St Mirren brought his season’s tally to an impressive 16 goals.
Kuhn’s first goal came after an excellent through ball from Daizen Maeda, who picked him out with a perfectly timed pass down the left wing. Kuhn took a touch and then finished with clinical precision past the St Mirren goalkeeper. The goal highlighted Kuhn’s ability to make runs into dangerous areas and finish off chances with confidence. His second goal came as a result of a mishap from Zach Hemming, who dropped the ball at Kuhn’s feet after a poor defensive clearance. Kuhn, ever the opportunist, made no mistake and slotted the ball into the net to seal the win for Celtic.
Rodgers was quick to praise Kuhn’s performance, saying: “He’s doing very, very well. But Nicolas still has more to go.” The Celtic boss noted that while Kuhn’s numbers this season have been impressive, the winger still has the potential to develop further. With the confidence of a manager like Rodgers, Kuhn could continue to grow into an even more pivotal figure for Celtic in the second half of the season.
The German’s early struggles in Glasgow seem to be behind him, as he has quickly established himself as one of the club’s key attacking players. Having joined from Rapid Vienna last January, Kuhn initially faced challenges adjusting to life in the Scottish Premiership. However, his consistent form this season has shown that he is beginning to settle into the team and make a real impact.
Celtic Victory in Context: A Crucial Bounce-Back After Rangers Defeat
Celtic’s 3-0 victory over St Mirren was not just a routine win but a significant bounce-back performance following their first league defeat of the season to Rangers. The loss at Ibrox, which ended a remarkable 34-match unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, was a blow to the champions, but they responded well by taking full advantage of Rangers’ slip-up against Hibernian.
Brendan Rodgers was pleased with the way his team responded to that setback, noting that the effort, movement, and quality of play were all at a high level against St Mirren. “The effort of the players, the movement of the players, the quality they showed was at a really good level,” Rodgers said after the match. While Celtic may not have been at their absolute best, they still controlled the game with relative ease, creating chances and wearing St Mirren down as the match progressed.
The victory was crucial for Celtic, not just because it allowed them to extend their lead at the top of the table but also because it reinforced their resilience in the face of adversity. The response to the defeat against Rangers demonstrated that the team is capable of bouncing back quickly and maintaining their focus on the long-term goal of retaining the league title.
Celtic Victory Through a Team Effort: Contributions All Over the Pitch
While Nicolas Kuhn stole the headlines with his two goals, the Celtic victory was also a result of a solid team performance. The hosts controlled possession for most of the match, and several players contributed to the victory. One of the standout performances came from Luke McCowan, who provided the assist for Kuhn’s opening goal with a brilliant pass that set Daizen Maeda free on the left wing. McCowan was everywhere in the midfield, providing energy and vision throughout the match.
Alistair Johnston also played an important role in Celtic’s attacking play, making dangerous runs down the right and combining well with Kuhn to put pressure on the St Mirren defense. The right-back’s movement allowed Celtic to stretch the opposition and create space for Kuhn and others to exploit.
At the back, Celtic’s defense was largely untroubled, with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel keeping a clean sheet. Schmeichel had one significant save to make late in the game when he denied Jonah Ayunga, and his quick thinking in launching a counter-attack helped set up one of the best chances of the game for Kuhn, who was denied by St Mirren’s Hemming.
It was clear that Celtic’s depth and quality across the pitch were too much for St Mirren to handle. Even though the visitors showed moments of resistance, particularly in the first half, Celtic eventually wore them down with their superior quality and pressing game.
St Mirren’s Early Promise Fades After Kuhn’s Opener
For 32 minutes, St Mirren looked like they might be able to frustrate Celtic, pressing high and limiting the hosts’ chances. Their defensive shape was solid, and goalkeeper Zach Hemming was called into action several times, making important saves. However, the resistance was broken by a well-worked goal from Celtic, with Maeda’s pass allowing Kuhn to score with clinical precision.
After the opening goal, St Mirren’s confidence seemed to drain, and they struggled to regain their earlier resolve. Celtic capitalized on this, adding a second goal just before halftime when Auston Trusty rose highest to head home an Arne Engels corner. The third goal came soon after the break, when Hemming, under pressure from Celtic’s attackers, made an error and dropped the ball at Kuhn’s feet. The German forward made no mistake in converting the opportunity.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson acknowledged that his side’s performance began to falter after the first goal. “We never gave up the fight,” Robinson said, “but you can’t make mistakes like that against a team like Celtic. They wear you down, and when you give them those opportunities, they will punish you.”
Robinson will be disappointed with how his side conceded the second and third goals but can take comfort in their solid defensive display for the first 30 minutes. St Mirren will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities if they are to maintain their place in the top six of the league.
The Road Ahead: Celtic’s Focus on Maintaining Their Lead
With Celtic’s comfortable victory over St Mirren, the league leaders have put further distance between themselves and their rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Their 13-point lead is a significant advantage, but they will need to maintain their focus as the season progresses.
Celtic will take confidence from this victory, particularly as they continue to navigate a season full of challenges. Their attacking play, led by the in-form Nicolas Kuhn, remains a major strength, and if the winger continues to perform at this level, he will undoubtedly be in the conversation for Player of the Year awards.
As for St Mirren, the defeat was a tough one, but they will need to regroup and improve their defensive record if they are to achieve their goal of a top-six finish. They showed early promise in the match, but their inability to keep up with Celtic’s attacking pressure ultimately cost them.
A Comprehensive Celtic Victory with Nicolas Kuhn Leading the Way
Celtic’s 3-0 victory over St Mirren demonstrated their class and resilience, with Nicolas Kuhn once again leading the charge. The winger’s two goals were crucial in securing the win, but the performance was also a collective effort, with key contributions from players all over the pitch. Brendan Rodgers will be pleased with the response from his team following the defeat to Rangers, and the victory takes Celtic 13 points clear at the top of the league. As the season progresses, the continued form of Kuhn and the overall strength of Celtic will make them formidable contenders for the Scottish Premiership title.
