McLeish wants St Mirren to go to Hampden with 'no fear'

St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish admitted the atmosphere played a part and is looking forward to facing Celtic again next Sunday in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-finals with a far bigger Buddies support at Hampden.

"There are bits we need to keep working on for next week, and being brave from the very start," he said.

"I can't ask for any more from the boys as to how they went about it in the second half, but we just have to find that final ball in the final third.

"We will have to make changes to some of our approach and I would imagine Celtic will be the same. It's a one-off game, and the biggest bit for us is that we will have our fans in supporting us, and driving us on.

"Coming here, it's so noisy and lively that you have to try and stem that flow, slow it down, and frustrate them. We have to be brave from the very start of the game."

McLeish, whose side remain in the thick of the battle to avoid a relegation play-off place, added: "We can't be scared of it, we can't have any fear.

"We can't come to places like here and have any fear, we can't go to Hampden with any fear, and we can't play against any of the bottom six teams with any fear.

"If we play with fear and with doubt, then we're in trouble, that's the biggest part I'm trying to get across to the group.

"I've seen us free ourselves up at times and play with real bravery, and we have to keep trying to do that."