Years before Saints’ success really sinks in
CALLUM DAVIDSON feels it might be five years before he truly reflects on St Johnstone’s five quickfire visits to Hampden.
The McDiarmid Park manager saw his incredible knockout record ended by Celtic in the last four of the Premier Sports Cup.
Davidson’s team had been to the national stadium four times already in 2021 on their way to lifting the trophy and also last term’s Scottish Cup in a remarkable double.
Saturday’s semi was a fifth visit in 11 months and, although defeat saw their silverware defence brought to a conclusion, it can not mask the enormity of their achievements.
Davidson knows it’s special but can’t think of it just now with disappointment deep as he said: “I don’t really look back and I wanted to win the game.
“Maybe when I actually sit back in five or six years’ time and look at the team, knowing we got to Hampden five times in a year is a pretty special thing.
“At the moment I am disappointed not to make it a sixth time though.”
Davidson’s team scrapped to halt the Glasgow giants but came up just short and the boss added: “I’m very proud. If you look at it Celtic had three shots on target the whole game.
“If you had said to me we would play them at Hampden and we would limit them to that then I would be happy.
“We knew Celtic would dominate possession so when we got the ball, we had to use it better and get into good areas.
“Sometimes you don’t realise how hard you have to work without the ball.
“I thought the shift they put in to stop Celtic was tremendous.
“The distance they covered, the work rate and commitment they showed for each other, I’m delighted with it.
“It’s a positive I will take forward into the next few games and to make sure we get more results.
“We want to win games of football. The boys are so disappointed and that sends a message for me.
“To be disappointed to lose to Celtic in the cup semi-final says a lot about the players as a group.
“I’m pleased with the lads’ attitude.”
Unlike for their cup successes, Saints fans were allowed to attend Hampden and Davidson complimented the backing they provided.
He said: “It was great to play in front of the fans and it definitely wasn’t eerie. It was a great atmosphere and they held their own.
“They supported us all the way through and they encouraged us towards the end to try and get us to the final.
“I’m delighted with the support the fans gave us and it was great to have them in.
“We heard them singing at the end and you know from their reaction how the players have done. I am just gutted for them that we didn’t get through.”