Callum McGregor’s early withdrawal at Hampden sparked a few questions at the time, particularly as the game began to swing in St Mirren’s direction. The Celtic skipper was taken off after 73 minutes, right when the contest started to open up and midfield control began to slip.
Celtic had looked in command during the first half. McGregor kept things moving and ensured the play flowed, even if the pace dropped slightly at times. After the interval, though, the match became more stretched. St Mirren stepped up their press and forced more loose balls, making it difficult for Celtic to regain control.
Once McGregor came off, Celtic lost some shape in that area. The midfield opened up, and St Mirren found room to swing in crosses and commit more players forward. The late equaliser came as a result of that sustained pressure rather than a single defining moment.
Martin O’Neill had already mentioned before kick off that McGregor’s minutes would be managed, and after the match he made it clear the change followed that plan rather than any new concern during the game.
He said: (Premier Sports), “Callum will be fine.
“We only thought that he would see it through 65, 70 minutes again.
“But he’s, honestly, he’s fine. He’s absolutely fine.”
O’Neill’s comments remove any uncertainty around the substitution. It was not a reaction to how the game was unfolding or an issue on the pitch. It had been decided before the match and carried out as planned.
It also helps explain why Celtic lost their grip late on. Without McGregor dropping deep to collect the ball and calm things down, the tempo increased and the game became more direct.
That played into St Mirren’s hands. They were able to turn the contest into second balls and wide deliveries instead of a controlled passing game through the middle.
Celtic still managed to come through it. Extra time gave them breathing room, and fresher legs made the difference once the game opened up again.
Looking ahead, managing McGregor’s minutes will remain part of the plan. There are five league matches left and a final against Dunfermline still to come.
Keeping him fresh for those fixtures matters more than pushing him through a full match here.