McLeish Backs St Mirren to Upset Celtic in Cup Semi-Final
Interim boss Craig McLeish insists St Mirren have the pedigree to shock Celtic in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final, pointing to previous victories over the Glasgow giants as evidence his side can pull off another cupset.
Craig McLeish is clearly a glass-half-full sort of chap. The St Mirren interim manager has taken one look at Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final draw and decided that facing Celtic - you know, the team that collects Scottish trophies like most people collect grocery receipts - is actually quite manageable, thank you very much.
McLeish's confidence isn't born from delusion, mind you. The Paisley outfit have previous form when it comes to getting one over their Glasgow neighbours, and the interim boss is banking on history repeating itself when the two sides clash in what promises to be a classic David versus Goliath encounter.
While Celtic will rock up with their usual complement of international players and European pedigree, St Mirren are armed with something potentially more dangerous - the knowledge that they've done it before. McLeish has been quick to remind anyone who'll listen that his side have already proven they can beat Celtic, which in the topsy-turvy world of cup football might just be worth more than a few million pounds in transfer fees.
The Scottish Cup semi-final represents a golden opportunity for St Mirren to gate-crash the party and book their place in the final. Cup competitions have a delightful habit of making mugs out of favourites, and McLeish seems determined to ensure his players approach the tie with the belief that upsets happen for a reason.
For Celtic, this represents exactly the sort of fixture that can define a season - not because beating St Mirren would be particularly noteworthy, but because failing to do so would be catastrophic. The pressure sits firmly on the shoulders of the Glasgow giants, while St Mirren can play with the freedom that comes from having nothing to lose and everything to gain.
McLeish's bullish assessment of his team's chances might raise a few eyebrows among neutrals, but cup football has taught us that confidence can be infectious. If St Mirren turn up believing they belong on the same pitch as Celtic, they might just find that half the battle is already won.
Sunday's semi-final promises to be fascinating viewing, if only to see whether McLeish's faith in his side's giant-killing credentials proves justified or wildly optimistic.