St Mirren 3-1 Celtic: Player ratings + talking points as Hoops humbled by sizzling Saints to pile pressure on Nancy
How we rated the Celtic players in their 3-1 Premier Sports Cup final defeat against St Mirren at Hampden Park
On a dreich and blustery day in Glasgow’s southside, St Mirren created history by lifting the Premier Sports Cup final for just the second time after beating beleaguered holders Celtic 3-1.
A stunning second half brace from Jonah Ayunga won the trophy for the Buddies after Reo Hatate had cancelled out Marcus Fraser’s early header to pile more misery on new Hoops boss Wilfried Nancy.
In what was a frantic and gripping Hampden showpiece, Nancy was already staring at a must-win game on his first visit to the national stadium. Instead, he was served up another huge dose of disappointment.
The first silverware of the season was up for grabs. Defending champions Celtic had won SEVEN of the last nine editions of the competition and were bidding to get their hands on the trophy 23rd time in their history.
Saints, meanwhile, last lifted the trophy back in 2013 after beating Hearts and started the day as big underdogs, despite mounting pressure on new Hoops boss Wilfried Nancy after losing his first two games in charge of the Parkhead club.
Still licking their wounds after the 3-0 Europa League hammering at home to AS Roma on Thursday night, Nancy made two alterations to his starting XI and reverted to a back four instead of his preferred system. Anthony Ralston replaced Yang Hyun-jun on the right-hand side while Kelechi Iheanacho was favoured over Benjamin Nygren in attack.
Both teams emerged in horrible conditions to a raucous atmosphere and an impressive pre-match firework display. The weather would almost certainly play a factor. The wind was swirling and the rain hammered down on a gloomy afternoon in Mount Florida.
Backed by around 13,000 fans, St Mirren may have been outnumbered three to one inside the national stadium but that didn’t stop Stephen Robinson’s charges from roaring out the traps.
Attempting to replicate their stirring semi-final performance that saw them blitz Motherwell 4-1 last month, Robinson had called for his side to produce the “best version of ourselves” and he couldn’t have dreamt of a better start.
The clock was barely two minutes in when stand-in skipper Marcus Fraser - wearing the armband in place of club captain Mark O’Hara who was only fit enough for a place on the bench - rose highest to guide a superb header on the stretch past Kasper Schmeichel into a Keanu Baccus corner.
The Buddies end was bouncing. It was the third time Celtic had conceded directly from a set-piece in as many games. Just what was going through the mind of Wilfried Nancy on the edge of his Celtic technical area? As managerial starts go, this was not what the Frenchman had envisaged.
Celtic looked a nervous wreck in the early stages. It took them until the tenth minute to register their first chance; Iheanacho planting a powerful header on target from Kieran Tierney’s deep delivery but there was Saints No.1 Shamal George to produce an excellent diving save to keep it out.
Nancy remained calm on the touchline every time a mistake was made, cutting a rather nonchalant figure. That was until the 23rd minute when Daizen Maeda won a free-kick in a dangerous area after being hauled down by Fraser.
Tierney’s curling cross into the box ran all the way through to the unmarked Reo Hatate who met it flush on the volley and the ball nestled in the bottom corner of the net. It was the wake-up call Celtic needed.
For the first time in the match, they were on top. Scotland international Tierney was getting plenty of joy down the left flank, marauding forward time and time again and whipping in some teasing deliveries.
The match continued at a frenetic pace and Celtic were forced into an unwanted substitution when Iheanacho went to ground holding his hamstring. Despite his best attempts to run it off, the former Leicester City man was unable to continue with Johnny Kenny brought on in his place.
It was a cruel blow for the luckless Iheanacho who headed straight down the tunnel for treatment and slammed a door in frustration.
Naturally, Celtic lost a bit of momentum but they still ended the first-half firmly in the ascendency. Arne Engels flashed a ball across the face of goal but there were no takers before Kenny looped a header high and wide of the target.
There were angry scenes as the half-time whistle sounded, with Auston Trusty and Dan Nlundulu both receiving yellow cards for a bit of grappling that led other getting involved.
Just as the first-half had started, it was the Paisley outfit who began the second period on the front-foot. Re-energised after Robinson’s half-time team talk, Alex Gogic came within a whisker of connecting with a brilliant Declan John free-kick.
It was fast becoming a case of rinse and repeat. St Mirren looked assured going forward, countering quickly and forcing Celtic into countless misplaced passes. The supporters made their feelings known with further chants of “sack the board” ringing out around Hampden.
It was the St Mirren end who were in fine voice. The longer the half wore on, there was a growing sense that the next goal would prove crucial and Robinson’s men looked the more likely.
And so it transpired. With 63 minutes played, Saints regained the lead. A Gogic delivery spun high into the air and Jonah Ayunga muscled his way into the perfect position to head over the despairing dive of Schmeichel, who seemed to be caught in two minds over whether to attack the ball or stay on his line. Queue scenes of utter bedlam among those of a black and white persuasion.
Celtic were all at sea defensively, but what kind of response count Nancy muster up from his players? A trio of changes followed with Luke McCowan, James Forrest and Colby Donovan replacing Tierney, the anonymous Tounekti and the injured Ralston.
As for the response? It was non-existent. And St Mirren found themselves in dreamland with 15 minutes remaining when a long ball over the top caught out Celtic’s exposed high defensive line.
Former Rangers full-back John scampered forward from inside his own half before reaching the box and threading the ball inside to lay the ball on a plate for Agyuna who slotted home under little pressure for his second of the game.
It had summed up the match in a nutshell and all of a sudden Celtic were allowing the contest to get away from them in a flash. Ayunga headed off to rapturous applause from one end of the stadium while many fans draped in green and white made a beeline for the exits.
Nancy was in big trouble. His side were being outfought and outclassed in almost every department. Substitute Donovan conjured up their first chance of the half, forcing George into an outstanding fingertip save with a low raking drive.
Schmeichel then had to beat away a fierce effort from teenager Evan Mooney as Saints pressed for a fourth goal in the closing stages. As time ebbed away, so did any remote prospect of a Celtic comeback when McCowan skied a free-kick over the bar from 20-yards at the opposite end.
But this was a momentous moment for Saints to savour as they basked in the celebrations of only their fifth major honour. They had ripped Celtic apart with a performance that epitomised resilience, mental strength and clinical finishing.
Robinson had delivered a managerial masterclass and it was third time lucky for the Northern Irishman in a cup final, having failed to get his hands on the silverware on two previous occasions during his time with Motherwell.
Chants of ‘Saints Go Marching In’ rang out as faint boos could be heard from the smattering of Celtic supporters who had stayed until the final whistle.
Here, GlasgowWorld breaks down three main talking points from the game and how the Celtic players fared:
Celtic hit self-distrust button again
A complete implosion, this is a Celtic side in desperate need of repair. The manner in which they folded like a pack of cards after the break was unacceptable and it was the board who continued to cop plenty of flak from furious supporters.
Nancy will need sufficient backing in the January transfer window, but in the meantime, there are league matches against Dundee United, Aberdeen and Motherwell to contend with before then.
Nancy facing uncertain future
Three crushing defeats in the space of eight days, including a cup final. It has been a simply disastrous start to Nancy’s reign. There’s no escaping, this was as bad a Celtic performance as you’re likely to see.
Celtic’s recruitment and injury issues have been well documented this season, but Nancy has been tasked with fixing and overcoming those troubles. This team appear to have regressed since the Frenchman’s arrival and Nancy’s job is only going to get tougher amid a busy festive period with games coming thick and fast. He’s already right up against it and his future looks uncertain.
Iheanacho injury heightens woes
Celtic were dealt a major setback when frontman Iheanacho, who made a bright start to the game and was arguable Celtic best player, lasted just over half an hour before he pulled up with a hamstring problem.
It leaves the champions extremely light again in the forward department, and his replacement Johnny Kenny didn’t offer the same link-up capabilities.
Celtic player ratings vs St Mirren
GK - Kasper Schmeichel (4/10)
RB - Anthony Ralston (5/10)
LCB - Liam Scales (4/10)
CM - Callum McGregor (5/10)
CM - Arne Engels (5/10)
CM - Reo Hatate (6/10)
LCF - Sebastian Tounekti (4/10)
RCF - Daizen Maeda (4/10)
ST - Kelechi Iheanacho (6/10)
Subs used: Johnny Kenny (4/10), Luke McCowan (3/10), James Forrest (4/10), Colby Donovan (4/10), Yang Hyun-jun (N/A).