Celtic secured a late victory against St Mirren, while Hibernian added to Dundee's early-season struggles in the Scottish Premiership.

Celtic's Late Show

Celtic began their Scottish Premiership title defense with a narrow 1-0 victory over St Mirren at Celtic Park. Despite dominating possession for much of the game, the Hoops found it difficult to break down a resolute St Mirren defense. Celtic hit the woodwork multiple times and had a goal disallowed by VAR, increasing the frustration among the home fans.

Substitute Luke McCowan eventually broke the deadlock in the 87th minute with a deflected shot from the edge of the box. McCowan collected a pass from Daizen Maeda and fired a shot that spun off Mark O'Hara's leg before finding the bottom corner of the net. The late goal ensured that Celtic started their campaign with all three points.

Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the difficulty of the game and praised his team's persistence. He also reiterated the need for new attacking options, highlighting the team's lack of inspiration in front of goal.

Hibernian Compound Dundee's Woes

Hibernian overcame their European disappointment to secure a 2-1 victory against Dundee at Dens Park. Kieron Bowie's first-half double put Hibs in control, scoring twice in three minutes. The Scotland forward opened the scoring in the 28th minute after Dundee failed to deal with a cross, and he quickly added a second from a rebound.

Dundee responded swiftly through Finlay Robertson, who capitalized on a Jack Iredale slip to pull a goal back in the 36th minute. However, Hibs managed the game effectively in the second half to secure the win.

David Gray commended his players for overcoming their Europa League exertions and securing all three points. He was particularly pleased with Bowie's performance, highlighting his suitability for Scottish football.

Dundee's new manager, Steven Pressley, faced further disappointment after a demoralizing League Cup exit. Despite including several new signings in the starting lineup, Dundee struggled to create clear-cut chances and lacked a cutting edge in attack without their captain, Simon Murray.