St Mirren Boss Reflects on Proud Performance Despite Heavy Celtic Loss
St Mirren manager Craig McLeish expressed immense pride in his team's effort following their 6-2 extra-time defeat to Celtic, despite the final scoreline looking 'really sore'. He highlighted the group's resilience after early setbacks, including a goalkeeper injury and a conceded goal, and praised the fans for pulling them through.
McLeish pointed to the second-half performance as one of the best since he took charge, believing they were in a strong position heading into extra time. Strategic changes and a shift in shape helped them get back into the contest, though he admitted the risks taken ultimately exposed them to Celtic's superior quality in the added period.
Analyzing the Match Dynamics
The manager took a critical look at his own decisions, suggesting a 'wee bit of naivety' in how they approached the end of the 90 minutes. The message was to keep going without being reckless, but the toll of extra time against a top side was severe. He refused to be critical of his players, focusing instead on the positives they must take forward into their final five league games, where survival is the clear objective.
Regarding the early injury to goalkeeper Ryan Mullen, which led to Celtic's opening goal, McLeish provided a straightforward explanation. Mullen kicked the ground, was robbed of the ball, and subsequently pulled a thigh muscle. The manager stressed that the professional player would deal with the incident well.
Key Takeaways from the Post-Match Reaction
- Managerial Pride: McLeish's primary emotion was pride in his team's fight and performance, especially after early adversity.
- Tactical Risk & Reward: Changes in shape and personnel helped St Mirren reach extra time, but also left them exposed to Celtic's quality.
- Self-Criticism: The manager was more critical of his own naive decisions than of his players' efforts.
- Focus on Survival: The immediate priority shifts to the 'massive' final five games to retain their league status.
- Injury Explanation: The goalkeeper's error and injury were attributed to a mishap where he kicked the ground and suffered a muscle pull.
Looking Ahead to the Survival Fight
The conversation inevitably turned to the looming challenge. With five crucial matches remaining, the fight for survival is the absolute focus. The group understands the task, and McLeish insists they must take the positives from this performance—the resilience and the strong second half—while not ignoring the lessons from the negatives. The heavy defeat, though painful, is a chapter they must close quickly to concentrate on the league battle ahead.
Key Takeaways:
- St Mirren showed significant resilience and a strong second-half performance against a dominant Celtic.
- Manager Craig McLeish took personal responsibility for tactical decisions that may have led to their extra-time collapse.
- The immediate and sole focus is now on securing survival in their final five league games.
- The goalkeeper's early injury was a key turning point in the match.
- The manager believes the final scoreline was harsh relative to his team's overall effort.
— Editorial Team
