Celtic kicked off their Scottish Premiership title defence with a narrow 1-0 win over St Mirren. The match at Celtic Park saw the home team as strong favourites, but they struggled to break through until Luke McCowan scored in the 87th minute. Despite dominating possession, Celtic couldn't capitalise in the first half. Captain Callum McGregor's goal was disallowed for offside after a close VAR review, and both Reo Hatate and Adam Idah hit the woodwork.In a game where Celtic controlled 77% of possession, their expected goals (xG) stood at 1.74, reflecting their struggle to convert chances. However, they excelled defensively by limiting St Mirren to an xG of just 0.27. This victory marked Celtic's fifth consecutive opening day win, continuing a strong tradition of starting the league on a positive note.McCowan's late goal was crucial in ensuring Celtic didn't face the same fate as Rangers, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Motherwell in their opener. His deflected shot from outside the box found its way into the bottom-right corner, securing all three points for his team. This result also extended Celtic's dominance over St Mirren, having won 12 of their last 14 encounters across competitions.Celtic have now triumphed in 17 of their last 18 opening league matches. Brendan Rodgers has maintained an unbeaten record in his last 12 season openers as a manager with various clubs including Liverpool and Leicester City. This consistency highlights his ability to prepare teams effectively for the start of campaigns.The Bhoys' performance on Sunday ensured they avoided slipping up like their rivals Rangers did against Motherwell. The win also continued Celtic's impressive form against St Mirren, although they were held to a draw by them on the final day of last season.

As Celtic look ahead to the rest of the season, this victory sets a positive tone for their title defence. Their ability to secure wins even when not at their best will be crucial as they aim for continued success in the league.