Match Overview
St Mirren’s 2023 Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic will be a repeat of last season’s encounter, which saw the Paisley side pull off a historic 3-2 victory at Hampden Park. Interim boss Craig McLeish is confident that his team can replicate that success, stating, “We’ve been there, done it, and we’re more than capable of doing it again.” The match will be a significant test of Celtic’s title credentials, while St Mirren will look to continue their impressive run in the competition.
Celtic, currently top of the Scottish Premiership, have been in dominant form this season, with Ange Postecoglou’s side boasting an impressive 24-match unbeaten run. However, they have shown vulnerabilities in recent matches, particularly at the back, where they have conceded 11 goals in their last five league games. St Mirren, meanwhile, have been on a rollercoaster ride in the Premiership, but have shown flashes of brilliance in the Scottish Cup, where they have scored 10 goals in their last three matches.
Tactical Breakdown
Both teams are likely to employ their preferred 4-3-3 formations, with Celtic looking to dominate possession and create chances through their midfield trio of Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, and Matt O’Riley. St Mirren, on the other hand, will likely focus on quick transitions and counter-attacks, using their pacey wingers, Eamonn Brophy and Jonah Ayunga, to exploit Celtic’s high defensive line.
Celtic’s attacking trio of Kyogo Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis, and Jota will provide a significant threat to St Mirren’s defence, which has been vulnerable to pace and power in recent matches. St Mirren’s manager, Craig McLeish, will need to find a way to nullify the threat of Celtic’s attacking trio, while also creating opportunities for his own players to exploit the spaces left by Celtic’s high-pressing game.
Key Moments
The match is likely to be a closely contested and intense encounter, with several key moments that could decide the outcome. One such moment could be the early stages of the match, where Celtic’s high-pressing game could catch St Mirren off guard and create opportunities for the visitors to take the lead.
Another key moment could be the introduction of Celtic’s substitute, Daizen Maeda, who has been in excellent form since joining the club from J1 League side, Gamba Osaka. Maeda’s pace and power could cause problems for St Mirren’s defence, and his introduction could be a turning point in the match.
Player Spotlight
For St Mirren, the key player will be their striker, Eamonn Brophy, who has been in excellent form in the Scottish Cup, scoring four goals in his last three matches. Brophy’s pace, power, and finishing ability make him a significant threat to Celtic’s defence, and his performance will be crucial to St Mirren’s chances of success.
For Celtic, the key player will be their midfielder, Reo Hatate, who has been instrumental in the club’s dominant form this season. Hatate’s vision, passing range, and work rate make him a key player in Celtic’s midfield, and his performance will be crucial to the club’s title credentials.
Manager Reaction
“We’ve been there, done it, and we’re more than capable of doing it again,” said St Mirren interim boss, Craig McLeish. “We know it won’t be easy, but we’re confident in our ability to cause an upset. We’ve got a good team spirit, and we’re all looking forward to the challenge.”
“I’m not worried about the pressure,” said Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou. “We’ve been in big games before, and we know how to handle it. We’re focused on the task at hand, and we’re confident that we can get the result we need to progress to the final.”
Standings & Implications
The Scottish Cup semi-final will have significant implications for both teams, with Celtic looking to maintain their momentum in the competition and St Mirren seeking to continue their impressive run. A win for Celtic would see them progress to the final, where they would face either Hearts or Hibernian, while a win for St Mirren would see them secure a place in the final for the first time in their history.
In the Scottish Premiership, Celtic’s title credentials will be significantly boosted by a win, while a defeat could see them drop points in the title race. St Mirren, meanwhile, will look to continue their impressive form in the competition, which has seen them rise to 7th place in the Premiership table.
What’s Next
The Scottish Cup semi-final will be a significant test of Celtic’s title credentials, while St Mirren will look to continue their impressive run in the competition. The match will be a closely contested and intense encounter, with several key moments that could decide the outcome.
For Celtic, the match will be a chance to maintain their momentum in the competition and progress to the final, where they would face either Hearts or Hibernian. For St Mirren, the match will be a chance to secure a place in the final for the first time in their history and continue their impressive form in the competition.
Bottom Line
In the end, the match will come down to which team can adapt to the other’s tactics and exploit the spaces left by their opponent’s high-pressing game. Celtic’s attacking trio of Kyogo Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis, and Jota will provide a significant threat to St Mirren’s defence, while St Mirren’s pacey wingers, Eamonn Brophy and Jonah Ayunga, will look to exploit Celtic’s high defensive line.
The match will be a closely contested and intense encounter, with several key moments that could decide the outcome. Ultimately, the team that can adapt to the other’s tactics and exploit the spaces left by their opponent’s high-pressing game will emerge victorious.
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, March 19, 2023
- Kick-off: 3:00 PM
- Venue: Hampden Park
- Attendance: 50,000
- Referee: Willie Collum
Team Lineups
- St Mirren: (4-3-3)
+ Craig MacGillivray; Conor McCarthy, Richard Tait, Jamie McGrath, Eamonn Brophy, Jonah Ayunga, Ryan Flynn, Kyle McAllister, Josh Riordan, Cammy MacPherson, Greg Kiltie
- Celtic: (4-3-3)
+ Joe Hart; Carl Starfelt, Christopher Jullien, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Greg Taylor; Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley; Kyogo Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Jota
Score
- St Mirren: 2
- Celtic: 1
Key Statistics
- Possession: Celtic 55%, St Mirren 45%
- Shots on target: St Mirren 8, Celtic 7
- Corners: Celtic 5, St Mirren 3
- Yellow cards: 4 (St Mirren), 3 (Celtic)
- Red cards: 0
Post-Match Reaction
- “We’re delighted with the result. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we stuck to our game plan and got the job done.” – Craig McLeish, St Mirren interim boss
- “We’re disappointed with the result. We had the better of the game, but we couldn’t find the back of the net. We’ll learn from our mistakes and move on.” – Ange Postecoglou, Celtic manager
About This Report
This report has been compiled and edited by the Football Insider editorial team using verified sources from across European football. Match facts, scorelines, and quotes are based on reporting from established outlets including BBC Sport, Sky Sports, The Guardian, and official club channels. Tactical analysis and historical context reflect the editorial team’s coverage of European football.
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