St Mirren were beaten 5-2 by Celtic at The SMiSA Stadium in a match where the scoreline didn't reflect the balance of play.
The Buddies twice came from behind with Declan John and Killian Phillips both netting after the visitors had lead through Jeffrey Schlupp and Arne Engels. Substitute Hyunjun Yang headed home to give Celtic the lead for a third time with just over 20 minutes remaining. Daizen Maeda scored in the final minutes of normal time, almost immediately after Saints were denied a blatant penalty before Yang added his second and Celtic's fifth in stoppage time.
There was one change from the side that lost to Hearts on Wednesday night with Jonah Ayunga missing out after an ankle injury. That saw top scorer Toyosi Olusanya come back in.
Saints started the match well with Mikael Mandron getting in ahead of Cameron Carter-Vickers inside the first two minutes to meet Phillips' cross.
Celtic had two decent opportunities with Reo Hatate blazing high and wide on 11 minutes after being picked out by Adam Idah, before Maeda knocked Schlupp's low pass just over a minute later.
Olusanya was presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring on 19 minutes when captain Mark O'Hara found the forward with a super ball over the top. The forward raced through on goal but saw his attempt blocked by Kasper Schmeichel. The Danish goalkeeper was involved again three minutes later when he parried Ryan Alebiosu's cross before gathering O'Hara's follow-up attempt.
Celtic hit the front on 28 minutes when Schlupp put the visitors ahead. Nicolas Kuhn's low pass out to the left found the Celtic loanee and he worked his way into the box, firing low into the net via the far post.
Saints were level five minutes later when John scored his first St Mirren goal. Maeda fouled Phillips on the edge of the Celtic box and the Buddies defender beautifully curled the free-kick in off the bar to make it 1-1.
Declan John celebrates after his first goal for the club drew us level (Image: Allan Picken)
Olusanya had another big opportunity to add his name to the scoresheet when he burst on to Richard Taylor's long pass. The striker lifted the ball over Schmeichel but couldn't find the target as it drifted wide.
As the game headed to the interval, Celtic were awarded a penalty when Alebiosu fouled Maeda and referee Matthew MacDermid showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Engels took the responsibility and rolled down the middle to give Celtic the half-time advantage. Mandron came close to equalising before the break but just couldn't force home when he reached Boyd-Munce's ball over the top.
The Buddies couldn't have started the second-half any better when they drew level three minutes after the restart. Alebiosu did brilliantly to maraud down the right side before sending a teasing ball into the box. Johnston could only head clear as far as Phillips who struck into the ground and saw it evade Schmeichel to draw us level.
Killian Phillips drew Saints level a second time (Image: Allan Picken)
Phillips almost turned provider just after the hour mark when his cross found the head of Olusanya but he headed wide as he failed to get the purchase he would have wanted to really trouble Schmeichel.
Celtic made three changes just after that chance with Yang, Luke McCowan and Jota on to replace Callum McGregor, Kuhn and Idah. And it was one of the substitutes who would fire Celtic back in front. Reo Hatate's cross found Yang free in the box and the South Korean headed beyond Zach Hemming.
The Buddies were agonisingly close to drawing level for a third time when Taylor rose the highest to meet a corner kick but headed inches wide.
Saints should have had a penalty with just three minutes remaining when substitute Roland Idowu was fouled by Alastair Johnston. It looked every inch a stonewaller but it appeared that VAR Andrew Dallas deemed that the Celtic defender got enough on the ball to justify the non-award. And how that would prove costly to Saints hopes of taking anything from the game as Celtic almost immediately went on to secure the three points. Yang's hopeful ball found Maeda who evaded Marcus Fraser before rolling past Hemming. Yang added a fifth deep in to stoppage when he met Schlupp's cross at the back post.
Full-Time: St Mirren 2-5 Celtic
St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Alebiosu, Phillips (Kiltie 77), Boyd-Munce (Idowu 83), O'Hara (c), John, Mandron (Scott 58), Olusanya (Oseni 77)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Bwomono, Tanser, Smyth
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty (Scales 27), Taylor, McGregor (c) (Yang 64), Engels, Hatate, Kuhn (McCowan 64), Maeda (Kenny 90), Idah (Jota 64)
Subs Not Used: Sinisalo, Taylor, Ralston, Bonnar
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Steven Traynor
Fourth Official: George Calder
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 7,127
