“We Ran Out of Steam” – Craig McLeish Post-Match Interview Reveals Brutal Truth After Celtic vs St Mirren Extra-Time Thriller
Craig McLeish was absolutely spot on in his tactical assessment during the post-match interview. St Mirren went all-in with aggressive second-half changes, and without those bold decisions, they may not have even forced extra time in this dramatic Scottish Cup semi-final. However, that brief break before extra time gave Celtic a crucial physical and tactical reset, and St Mirren were left exposed. In the end, they simply ran out of steam in a devastating 6–2 defeat.
This reaction captures the emotion surrounding one of the most explosive Scottish Cup semi-final clashes of the season, as St Mirren suffered a heartbreaking 6–2 extra-time defeat to Celtic after holding the match at 2–2 after 90 minutes.
A 1-minute-26-second post-match interview video showed interim manager Craig McLeish delivering a calm but brutally honest tactical breakdown after the match.
Scottish Cup Semi-Final Match Analysis
This was not just a defeat. It was a high-intensity tactical battle that shifted completely over 120 minutes.
St Mirren entered as underdogs but showed tactical discipline and pressing intensity under McLeish, making this one of their most competitive performances of the season.
Early Goal and Injury Setback
Celtic struck early through Daizen Maeda after a defensive error. Shortly after, St Mirren lost their goalkeeper to injury, forcing a 17-year-old debutant into a high-pressure situation.
Anthony Ralston doubled Celtic’s lead before half-time, making it 2–0 at the break.
McLeish Tactical Changes and Comeback
McLeish switched to an aggressive 3-4-1-2 formation, increasing attacking pressure.
Mikael Mandron pulled one back in the 53rd minute, and later equalised in stoppage time to make it 2–2, forcing extra time.
Extra-Time Collapse
The break before extra time allowed Celtic to reset and exploit fatigue in the St Mirren squad.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored in the 96th minute, followed by a rapid scoring burst that saw Benjamin Nygren seal a 6–2 victory.
Match Image
Tactical Breakdown
St Mirren’s high-intensity pressing worked in normal time but led to fatigue in extra time. Celtic’s squad depth proved decisive in the final stages.
Standout Performers
Mikael Mandron: Two goals and strong attacking presence.
Kelechi Iheanacho: Match-winning impact from the bench.
Daizen Maeda: Early attacking threat.
Final Verdict
Craig McLeish summed it up best in his post-match interview: they gave everything, but had nothing left when it mattered most.
This was heartbreak for St Mirren, but also proof they can compete at the highest level of Scottish football.