Kai Watson: St Mirren Win the League Cup & Hearts Move 6-Points Clear
Wilfried Nancy's troubled reign at Celtic worsened over the weekend as the Hoops were beaten 3-1 by St Mirren in the League Cup final, before Hearts stretched their advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership to six points.
Free Bets Scottish football expert Kai Watson dissects the weekend action and what it could mean for the rest of the season.
Before the League Cup Final on Sunday Hearts had the chance to go six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. They travelled to surprise package Falkirk, whom they had beaten convincingly 3-0 at Tynecastle earlier in the season. Although Celtic would have two games in hand, this represented a chance to place further pressure on Wilfried Nancy’s side in the title race.
Hearts got themselves in front really quickly, a Lawrence Shankland shot was saved by Scott Bain on to the crossbar but it fell into the path of Claudio Braga who needed home his eight goal of the season.
There was controversy in the first half though as Kyrell Wilson broke beyond Harry Milne, rounded the ‘keeper then Milne slid back in and blocked the shot which looked to potentially have hit his hand, no penalty was given after a VAR check though.
Hearts sealed the win with a stunning Stephen Kingsley striker, the ball bounced perfectly for him to cut across and fire a powerful effort into the corner beyond Bain. It was a well deserved 2-0 victory and Hearts ended the night, six points clear at the top.
Then Sunday came, Cup Final day, the chance for Nancy to get the Celtic fans onside after a rocky start in his first two games. It started terribly for the Frenchman though as Marcus Fraser put St. Mirren ahead with an impressive header just two minutes in. Both sides had chances after that, Shamal George made a brilliant save from a Kelechi Iheanacho header whilst Dan Nlundulu probably could’ve done better with two decent chances.
Celtic’s equaliser was wonderfully worked, McGregor cushioned the ball into Tierney who whipped a magnificent cross into the box which Reo Hatate met with a flying volley, a brilliant goal. Celtic settled into the game more after that and had better spells in possession but still couldn’t really create any clear cut chances.
Just after the hour mark, St. Mirren shocked Hampden again, some decent play down the left side led to the ball at Alex Gogic’s feet who dinked a delightful outside of the foot cross into the box. Schmeichel came out and tried to put pressure on the ball but in reality all he did was make it an easy finish for Ayunga, 2-1.
With fifteen minutes to go Freckleton played a long, searching pass down the left wing into space, the Celtic defence were well out of position and that brilliant pass put Declan John in the clear.
The former-Rangers man drove forward, cut back inside, composed himself and picked up a wonderful right-footed pass to Ayunga who knocked it passed Schmeichel, 3-1.
Nothing of note really happened after that and it was Stephen Robinson’s side who won the trophy in a much easier match than they would have expected!
The pressure is on Wilfried Nancy now, he lost his first home game to their closest title rivals, got hammered in Europe and now lost the League Cup Final to one of the most out of form teams in the Scottish Premiership.
How much time would you give him to turn it around?
Latest Scottish Premiership Betting Odds
Despite moving six points clear at the top, betting sites still have Hearts down as second-favourites to lift the Scottish Premiership title this season.
