Celtic scoring inside a minute through Daizen Maeda after St Mirren goalkeeper Ryan Mullen’s mistake set the tone for a nervy Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday at Hampden.
Throughout that first half, Celtic and Viljami Sinisalo tested the blood pressure of their supporters, as well as Martin O’Neill, with their play from the back.
There were at least two occasions where St Mirren should have punished Celtic’s sloppy, slow, and crazy play from the back, with Neil Lennon stating on commentary that O’Neill would have been ‘mad’ with Sinisalo.
“Honestly, what are we watching here?” screamed Lennon. “It’s absolute madness. It will drive Martin O’Neill mad.
“I can’t believe what I am watching here from top professional players of both teams. If I know Martin O’Neill the way I do, he will be fizzing inside with what he is seeing here.”
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Neil Lennon and Alan Hutton baffled by Celtic and Viljami Sinisalo playing out from the back
Whenever Sinisalo has previously played in between the sticks for Celtic, it has always been with Kasper Schmeichel still in the background.
But now that Schmeichel is injured long-term, it has put Sinisalo front and centre of the pressure cooker, and this was a testing game for the Finnish star.
However, life could have been very different. Yes, Celtic beat St Mirren 6-2 after extra time, but there is every chance that the opposition should have scored during the opening 45 minutes.
Funnily enough, Celtic will face Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final, and you wonder if he will target this part of the Hoops’ play.
There is no way O’Neill is asking the champions of Scotland to play this way, and this is, more than likely, coming from the coaching staff and Shaun Maloney.
But either way, on Premier Sports (19/04/26), Alan Hutton and Lennon couldn’t believe what they were seeing time and time again.
Lennon: “Honestly, what are we watching here? It’s absolute madness. It will drive Martin O’Neill mad.”
Hutton: “It’s incredible how many times we have seen that in one game. I mean, he takes so long on the ball. It’s incredible. Phillips needs to do better and get it on target. Ayunga closes Sinisalo down. He just dithers on the ball.”
Lennon: “Everyone knows it’s his mistake. I mean, it’s crazy. Phillips needs to score or hit the target, anyway.
“I can’t believe what I am watching here from top professional players of both teams. If I know Martin O’Neill the way I do, he will be fizzing inside with what he is seeing here.”
Hutton: “Surely, you will be saying. If you are a manager of a team, and you are going in at half-time, why do you consistently do this? There is no need.
“I understand you want to keep possession of the ball. But there are better things. Find a man forward on the pitch.”
Lennon: “It’s just common sense, you know. It’s a semi-final of a cup. There are nerves. There is tension.
“But don’t give the opposition an easier way of getting back in the game, which St Mirren have done initially, and then Celtic have put themselves under pressure that they don’t need to do.”
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