Celtic and St Mirren will face off at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup semi-final. The match is a rematch of the League Cup final from just over four months ago, a game where St Mirren triumphed over Celtic.
A Repeat of the League Cup Final
St Mirren secured their second League Cup title with a 3-1 victory over Celtic in December. Marcus Fraser’s early header and Jonah Ayunga’s second-half double are etched in St Mirren’s history. The Paisley Saints outplayed and outfought Celtic to claim the Scottish League Cup.
For Celtic, it was a crushing disappointment. Wilfried Nancy, then the Celtic manager, saw his instructions fail to have the desired impact. That loss was Nancy’s third defeat in his first three matches. Celtic looked dead and buried in a season of turmoil, while St Mirren enjoyed success under manager Stephen Robinson.
Changes in Management
Both teams have experienced changes in management since that League Cup final. Nancy lasted just eight matches and was dismissed along with head of football operations Paul Tisdale. Martin O’Neill, his predecessor, took interim charge for the second time this season.
St Mirren also have a different man in charge, four months on from the League Cup final. Robinson joined Aberdeen in March.
O’Neill’s Perspective
Performances have sometimes been lacking and Celtic’s squad is evidently flawed, but O’Neill has maintained a title challenge and taken his team back to Hampden. Celtic reached this semi-final after a penalty shoot-out victory against Rangers. O’Neill has said his side aren’t good enough for him to think about lifting the trophy.
He hopes a Hampden victory would provide a springboard for a pivotal run-in.
- The match is a Scottish Cup semi-final: Celtic v St Mirren (14:00 BST)
- The winner will face Dunfermline Athletic in the final
- St Mirren beat Celtic 3-1 in the League Cup final in December
The teams will meet again at the national stadium on Sunday, albeit in very different circumstances, with a final against Dunfermline Athletic at stake.