Celtic are back at Hampden this afternoon for a Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren, with Martin O’Neill naming his starting XI for a tie that will decide who meets Dunfermline in next month’s final.
The timing of this one adds a bit more edge. Celtic only just got past St Mirren in the league last weekend, a 1-0 win that never really felt comfortable. That game gives the Hoops something to build from, but it also showed how easily this fixture can tighten up.
There’s also what sits on the other side. Dunfermline have already booked their place after beating Falkirk on penalties yesterday, which opens the door to a final against Neil Lennon. That storyline is there, but Celtic still have work to do to get there.
St Mirren will bring the same problems again. They stay organised, keep bodies behind the ball, and wait for chances to break. Celtic have struggled against that kind of shape, especially when the tempo drops and attacks become easy to read.
The last meeting followed that script. Celtic had plenty of the ball early on but didn’t move it quick enough. After the break, there was more urgency through midfield and better use of the wide areas, which eventually made the difference.
This semi-final needs that from the first whistle. The passing has to be quicker, and the final ball needs to be sharper. If it turns slow and crowded, it suits St Mirren.
There’s a physical side to think about as well. The schedule has been heavy, and O’Neill has leaned on a small group of players. With not much rotation, managing energy through the game becomes part of the job.
Here is the Celtic starting XI to face St Mirren:
Kick-off is at 2:00pm, with live coverage on Premier Sports 1 in the UK.
