Celtic overcame St Mirren and a horrific performance from Don Robertson to claim full points on Matchday 1 of their SPFL Premiership defence.
It took a deflected shot from Luke McCowan in the 87th minute to separate the sides with the home side struggling for more than an hour to make a real impact.
The lack of wide options was obvious to all outside of the Celtic boardroom with Yang Hyun-jun doing little on the right while Daizen Maeda lacked a little sharpness on the other flank.
There was one constant throughout the match and that was the decision making of Robertson, one of Willie Collum’s elite match officials.
St Mirren were given free kicks to order, at any contact they could fall to the ground knowing that a free-kick and a breather was coming their way.
Celtic players were barged, pushed and fouled with Robertson opting to level up by refusing to award free-kicks for similar offences against the home side.
I think Don Robertson had money on St Mirren there ? Didn’t play advantage when Celtic were away, did play it for St Mirren when they were in behind, booked Engels for winning the ball, gave frees that were soft, didn’t give frees that were. Really poor performance. #CELSTM
— Mikey Doherty (@D91Mikey) August 3, 2025
Robertson also showed how the advantage rule can be manipulated, late on in the first half he blew quickly for a foul on Alistair Johnston after he had threaded a pass through to Yang. St Mirren had everyone back to defend the free kick.
Early in the second half Robertson took a very different view to support a St Mirren attack.
In the 67th minute Callum McGregor had a ‘goal’ rightly disallowed after the ball had struck his elbow as he took control.
That galvanised Celtic to raise their game, Brendan Rodgers made five substitutions with McCowan coming good with an 87th minute shot deflected off Mark O’Hara and into the net.
Robertson opted to play five minutes stoppage time, St Mirren were handed two more free-kicks but were unable to muster an equaliser.
Don Robertson should be relegated to Amateur football for the foreseeable btw, horrendous performance from him today
— K C ? (@kcampbell94) August 3, 2025
That’ll do Celtic. 3 points despite the referee’s best efforts. Get it up so far you Don Robertson you cheating orange rat. LUKE MCCOWAN CHOCOLATE BAR ?
— AG (@AGCeltic_) August 3, 2025
1. Not enough shooting, waiting for a perfect chance.
2. Get a coach to train corners.
3. Don Robertson’s incorrect decisions cost us potentially 2 goals.— C (@Callama_) August 3, 2025
Don Robertson will be spewing tonight so that’s a positive.
— George Paterson (@gfpaterson) August 3, 2025
Don Robertson has been woeful – bias shown
— Aingeal (@AngieCa26314731) August 3, 2025
Don Robertson committing crimes against humanity here.
— Matt Hanan (@HananMatt) August 3, 2025
Are you happy with Celtic's transfer activity
Absolutely- fantastic business
I will judge on September 1
Horrific- feels like 2023 again
Even in Scotland where the bar is lower than a slugs belly, (Har)Don Robertson is by far the worst referee. Regularly allows Celtic players to get assaulted (Ideguchi?) and gives Celtic nothing. If only we had a club that would call it out… (What exactly do they do for the club and the fans apart from making money for themselves?)
Hey he is the Don,he makes decisions nobody can refuse.
A draw today would suited Liewell&Co it would have kept sevco neck in neck with us.
Remember we are only matching sevco in the transfer stakes £ for £.
Should they decide to buy a £5 million player only then will we spend that kind of cash.
As I said before big gas meter doesn’t want getting to far in front of sevco,if they don’t keep up with us their fans will walk away,our fans will stay away,top tiers of the stadium will be shut at loss,big Pedro doesn’t want that,he needs it full,him and all those other PONCES on the board,otherwise bonuses will be slashed for them.
Only my opinion,which is like ARSEHOLES,everybody has one.
Still it was good to collect 3 points today,but we made it difficult for ourselves,and another performance like that in this qualifying round for champions league we ain’t getting there on that performance,it should be the jail we should be getting if we play like that again.
If that’s what’s ahead this season I ain’t looking forward to it.
We just don’t look like a team.
No fluidity.
We found it difficult to break 8 man defences down last season with a better squad.
Had to laugh on the 91st min sub for Saints…” Stephen Robinson having to take a gamble, bringing on a striker”……in the 91st min.
Only in the SPL.
Ps ; if ur on the board and watched that today, get yer fu**ing finger out.
My, my, my.
I was there today and, although early in the season, it looks as though we’ve been reduced to a workmanlike team……. and not very good workmen at that.
We lack guile and quick thinking in the final third.
Of our front three, two are basically subs from last season in Yang and Idah. Tierney doesn’t do as much forward running or give you the inverted option of Taylor.
James Forrest gave far more in the time he was on the park than Yang did.
Kenny offered more movement than Idah.
We probably put more crosses into the box today than we did in a third of last season.
I’ll gladly take the points but this squad needs improved.
Stopped Celtic in free flow for a free kick when Johnston was fouled but second half Celtic player fouled on edge of there box let play go on because the ball went back to our centre half disgraceful that’s what your up against every week
If Callum’s goal could be disallowed then the penalty for Gogic’s handball should have been given.
Editor: The rules were followed. Accidental handball by defending team is fine, accidental handball in the build up to a goal results in it being disallowed. We do know that it is open to special SFA interpretation.
Nothing to do with the ref, they overcame the the mismanagement by the board also their greed this will not end well, stop giving them your cash they are taking you for mugs
Calumns disallowed goal his arm was flush with his side , flummoxed this was not given , but that damn VAR TEAM
Think it would be better if we don’t qualify for the Champions League as it will be embarrassing. That looks the poorest Celtic side in quite a long while, lack vision, guile and technique.
We definitely will take a few battering as it stands Dan – But I wanna be there for the money for sure !
Idah is nowhere near good enough: when he’s not offside he’s missing chances he should put away. And he’s keeping someone else out of the team.
Too slow and ponderous physically and mentally.
And what is it with trying to walk the ball into the net against a packed defence?
It doesn’t work.
We should be shooting on sight in such circumstances. The goalie is often unsighted, in offs and deflections have a high probability, and handballs are another strong possibility.
FFS Celtic/Brendan wise up!
Out of all the referees, he is the biggest danger to us . His decision making is so disruptive to our flow , and so biased when we are out of possession.
If the club is not going to give refs fair marks, then the supporters will have to mark them, ist game an Robertshun is up to his old tricks cheating beaton and him should not be allowed in C P. Let us get rid of them
Are we seriously going to try and hide behind the Ref for today’s performance…??…It had feck all to do with the ref….Feck all…Get a grip…So much possession…so little outcome…Final third is a joke…What do they do at Lennoxtown every day…??…How about practicing shooting for start…But blaming the Ref…?? That is scraping the barrel.