Celtic’s Flag Day at Celtic Park ended in relief rather than celebration as Brendan Rodgers’ side had to wait until the 87th minute to finally break down a stubborn St Mirren defence.
Substitute Luke McCowan’s late strike secured a narrow 1-0 victory, but the talking point before kick-off was the manager’s decision to hand Benjamin Nygren his first competitive start ahead of Arne Engels.
The Swedish summer signing was trusted from the start in a match where Celtic expected to dominate possession against opponents happy to sit deep.
Engels, who made a big impression last season and in Europe, had to settle for a place on the bench. Rodgers’ choice reflected the need for more creativity and quick turns in tight midfield areas.
Nygren worked hard to find space in a congested attacking third, showing flashes of his technical ability even if clear openings were scarce for most of the afternoon. The game followed a familiar Flag Day script, Celtic probing patiently, St Mirren defending in numbers, until McCowan’s late intervention sparked celebrations around Celtic Park.
Rodgers explained post-match that his selection was dictated by the nature of the opposition rather than any reflection on Engels’ form, insisting the Belgian still has a major role to play this season.
He said: (Sky Sports), “A very gifted player. Creative, scores goals and gets turned in midfield really well. We are looking forward to seeing him throughout the course of the season.
“Throughout the season, we get many games over the course of the season, and this is a game where St Mirren will play low.
“Like I said, I need players that really can get turned in that midfield section. Arne has been great for us. He is really going to push on, I believe, again this season, so a very young player who adapted well last season.
“In the Champions League games, he was excellent. When the space is there, he can move. He will get better and better in those tighter spaces.”
The late winner ensured Rodgers’ selection gamble paid off, though the match served as a reminder of the challenges Celtic face in breaking down well-organised domestic opposition.
Nygren’s debut was steady rather than spectacular, but it offered a glimpse of what he can bring when given minutes in the right games.
Engels’ time will come, particularly in matches with more space to exploit, while Nygren looks set to feature in fixtures where guile and quick footwork are essential. With both players in the mix, Rodgers has options to tailor his midfield to each challenge.
McCowan’s late strike masked what had been a frustrating afternoon in front of goal, but it secured three points to kick off the league defence. For Rodgers, the hope will be that Nygren and Engels can both make decisive contributions in the weeks ahead, whether from the start or off the bench.
