Blame and plenty of it is now flying around at Celtic. This defeat, a third for Wilfried Nancy in his three games as the manager, plunged the club firmly into a state of crisis. What a festive fiasco.
There is a scenario in which Nancy changes Celtic’s fortunes. The trouble for the Frenchman is, that feels highly unlikely. On one of the finest days in St Mirren’s 148-year history they deservedly claimed the League Cup for only the second time. Yet it was impossible to ignore the desperate nature of Celtic’s performance. They have swapped Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill – elite managers who fully comprehend this environment – for a project under Nancy that is already covered in red flags. Another key attribute shared by Rodgers and O’Neill is experience. Nancy is in a situation he has never encountered before in football.
Nancy is a symptom rather than the cause of Celtic’s decline. Under Rodgers, great headway was made in last season’s Champions League and, despite the odd bump, domestic dominance was a near-certainty. The failure to build on European progress in transfer windows triggered not only the exit of Rodgers but widespread supporter discontent, epitomised by an AGM that had to be abandoned. There is a lack of accountability among the Celtic hierarchy that rightly angers paying punters. Paul Tisdale, the head of football operations, might as well be the invisible man.
O’Neill’s caretaker spell pre-Nancy was only ever supposed to be that, yet at least the 73-year-old won games. O’Neill retains presence. The lack of hype from Celtic around Nancy’s appointment left the impression even his paymasters were unsure of what was coming next. Hearts, Roma and now St Mirren have revelled in Celtic’s vulnerability. It is pretty difficult to envisage how they extricate themselves from this trauma. Even the spending of fortunes in January, presumably to endorse Nancy’s football theories, looks dangerous.
Not that Nancy is blameless. His insistence on switching to a back three has looked problematic from the start, namely because Celtic lack wingbacks and appropriate balance at centre-half. The shipping of eight goals in three games tells a story. Celtic’s midfield, a recent strength, is suddenly ragged. Nancy’s messaging to the media, as again the case post-match here, verges on waffle. What on earth, then, must players think?
Cláudio Braga and Stephen Kingsley were on target as a resurgent Hearts won 2-0 away to misfiring Falkirk on Saturday night to move six points clear at the top of the Premiership. Buoyed by ending a four-game run without a victory with last Sunday’s triumph against their title rivals Celtic, the Jambos raced into an early lead through Braga. Hearts – who survived a Bairns penalty claim just before half-time – had to dig deep to keep their advantage intact before the substitute Kingsley killed off the Bairns’ hopes of getting back into the game with a brilliant strike in the 77th minute (pictured).
Celtic, who play St Mirren in the League Cup final on Sunday, have two games in hand.
Jim Goodwin admitted he understood why the Dundee United fans booed at the final whistle of the 0-0 Premiership draw with Motherwell. The result meant that the Terrors have now failed to win in their last seven matches. However, United manager Goodwin was determined to accentuate the positives, with his side keeping their first clean sheet since 23 September when they beat Aberdeen 2-0.
The Irishman said: "We understand the frustration from the supporters. They turned out in great numbers again today. We've kept a clean sheet against a really, really good team. I'm going to give my players a bit of credit, off the back of a really disappointing performance last weekend.
"We're not happy not to win the game. We don't set up to draw games of football. But we set up in a way out of respect to the opposition. Motherwell are a very good possession-based team. I think they're probably, at this moment, the best team in the country in terms of how they play the game."
Livingston fought back from two goals down to salvage an important point from a 2-2 draw in the bottom-of-the-table Premiership clash with Dundee. The visitors took control of the game with two goals in quick succession in the first half from Yan Dhanda and Cameron Congreve. After being booed off at the interval, Livingston improved in the second half and deservedly pulled one back through Jeremy Bokila. Then, just moments after coming on from the bench, Tete Yengi knocked an effort through the legs of Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken in the 85th minute. The draw moved Livingston to within three points of second-bottom Kilmarnock while Dundee climbed to 10th, four points better off than the Lions.
On Sunday, Aberdeen's improved form continued with a 2-1 comeback victory over struggling Kilmarnock, whose winless run stretched to 10 games. The Dons toiled in the first period and were fortunate to trail by just one goal at the interval after Tyreece John-Jules opener the scoring for the visitors. But the hosts upped the tempo in the second half and Kenan Bilalovic levelled before Jesper Karlsson tucked home a late penalty to extend their unbeaten league run to seven matches. PA Media
The Frenchman admitted defeat was “painful” before bemoaning Celtic’s “failure to connect” the game and said his squad carries “self-doubt”. Nancy added: “I know where we are now and I know where we want to go. If you don’t know me, you might think I am all over the place but I know exactly what I need to do. I am the manager and I need to find solutions.” He must source them before Wednesday night and a trip to Dundee United.
As Nancy floundered, this was a triumph for his opposite number at St Mirren. Stephen Robinson out-thought and out-coached Nancy. St Mirren’s cup final plans had been disrupted by a call from Mikael Mandron to his manager at 7.30am, stating he had been sick all night. Mandron had been due to start at centre-forward. “I want being as comfortable as we were today to be recognised,” said Robinson. And it should be.
The Paisley side surged ahead inside 100 seconds. Marcus Fraser reacted quickest to meet a Keanu Baccus corner for the third goal Celtic had lost from that form of set play in three games. Kasper Schmeichel was slow with his attempt to save, which is becoming something of a theme. Dan Nlundulu should have doubled the St Mirren lead but instead fired wide from close range.
Celtic responded strongly enough. Reo Hatate ghosted in at the back post as Kieran Tierney floated in a cross. Hatate’s volley restored parity.
What happened next was ominous for Nancy. As St Mirren seized the second-half initiative, Celtic had no reply. Schmeichel was in no man’s land as Jonah Ayunga rose to meet Alex Gogic’s chipped cross. Ayunga’s second of the afternoon arrived after Miguel Freckleton found the marauding Declan John with a terrific pass and the Welshman spotted his teammate in blissful isolation.
In February, Celtic were so close to giving Bayern Munich a bloody nose in Bavaria. Here was the same team being shown up by Ayunga, a striker whose most prolific spell came at Havant and Waterlooville. This is the stuff of dreams for St Mirren. Celtic are in nightmare territory.
