Celtic did not just beat St Mirren at Hampden, they forced a collapse that the opposition could not control when it mattered most.
There were spells where the game looked competitive. There were spells when it looked like Celtic could lose the Scottish Cup tie, but that balance did not last once pressure began to build.
The key moments came when Celtic forced St Mirren into mistakes they could not sustain in extra-time, and that is where the game shifted.
It is only when you hear the St Mirren boss’ Craig McLeish’s full reaction that the scale of the Celtic defeat becomes clear.
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Celtic pressure forced the risks that led to collapse
McLeish made it clear his side were reacting to the situation rather than controlling it, admitting they took some risks to try and get back into the game as Celtic tightened their grip.
“I’m so proud of the boys and how they reacted to some early setbacks,” McLeish reflected. “In between the two goals in the first half, I didn’t think there was overly much in it.
“We took some risks to try and get back into the game.
“Those changes we made to take risks to get back into the game they, maybe, make us a bit more open and vulnerable in extra-time.”
That admission defines how Celtic forced a situation where St Mirren abandoned balance to try and win the game, but it ultimately cost them the tie.
Once that structure went, the outcome became predictable, because teams under that kind of pressure rarely recover.
Celtic expose defensive weakness as game slips away
The real damage came after the third goal, where McLeish admitted his side failed to regroup when we lose the third goal and allowed the game to get away from them.
“We have to do better and regroup when we lose the third goal. To lose the goals in the manner that we did is the disappointing bit.”
That is not just frustration, it is a clear acknowledgment that the defensive structure broke down when it was tested most.
When a side cannot respond in those moments, it points to deeper issues that go beyond a single result.
There is also no hiding from the wider consequence, with McLeish admitting he must deliver over the next five games after failing to produce against Celtic.
“I’m gutted for the fans that I couldn’t deliver for them [against Celtic].
“I have to deliver over the next five games. I have to deliver what they’re looking for and drag us out of this situation but I need them with us as well.”
This result exposed exactly why his side are in trouble, as Celtic did not just take advantage of mistakes, they forced them and then punished them without hesitation.
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