MCLEISHBIDS FOR SEMI WIN
Interim Buddies boss aims for Celtic scalp
Craig McLeish knows exactly what to expect when St Mirren go to Hampden - because he used to play there regularly in his club career.
During 2015 and 2017, McLeish, 36, interim head coach in his first top-team management job, played for Queen’s Park, whose home stadium for firstteam matches was Hampden, where the Saints will face off against Celtic again this weekend.
The EK man explained: “Even during the last cup run, I would laugh and joke with the boys saying ‘I’ve played here more than any of you have’. It wasn’t in front of quite as many people!
“To be fair, we did win a play-off final there and got to lift a trophy at Hampden when we won the play-offs to get promoted. It’s a place I’ve been quite a bit and I’m comfortable with.
“Playing at Queen’s Park was a really enjoyable part of my career. Such a good club, so much fun getting to play there, getting to use the facilities and things like that.
“I think because of the way my playing career was, and some of the places I played or some of the places you had to go, you couldn’t take that for granted.
“I had two brilliant seasons there where you looked forward to it all the time and you knew at some point you wouldn’t get that.
“I think half the players probably don’t even think that I ever kicked a ball in their life! There’s a couple of times in training; you’ll maybe just go and pass a ball or do something and they’ll go ‘Oh, did you play?’
“Obviously not to the level I’d like to, or at their level. So, it’s just a bit of fun and stuff with them.
“As an opposition player, the first time you went there and stuff, it takes you in. But the biggest bit you notice straight away is the pitch is massive.
“And there were times where you could give teams the runaround on it. I remember going there as well. It was Gardner Speirs’ [Queen’s Park] team. They were excellent. I remember Davie Anderson played in the middle of the pitch for them and I couldn’t get near them the whole game.”
This weekend is all about business, though.
Looking ahead to the game and what to expect, he analysed: “The pitch was always in good condition. It’s a massive pitch and we have to be aware of both sides of that.
“Celtic will have periods where they control the game but we have to make use of the size of the pitch as well, especially with how we’re looking to try and play.
“We have to exploit spaces and use the pitch to our advantage as well.”