Wilfried Nancy spent a memorable Friday press conference pleading for time, context and understanding as he visibly struggles with the role of Celtic manager. This outcome – and the nature of it – will do nothing for Nancy’s hopes of keeping his job.

And that’s it from a dramatic afternoon at Celtic Park. A classic game of two halves and another miserable afternoon for Wilfried Nancy. Can he survive this latest setback – especially given the opposition involved?

A number of Celtic fans have gathered outside the ground to voice their protests. Six defeats in eight games and disillusionment with the board will do that.

Ewan Murray’s match report is now in. Take a read.

Who wins the title now?! Celtic were favourites before kick-off but now the odds show Hearts heading the market at 6/5, with Celtic 7/4 and Rangers 2/1 (cut from 4/1).

At least it’s been good day for one Celtic supporter, Aston Villa’s John McGinn. The Scotland international struck twice to give Villa a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

Here’s the updated league table. Celtic now only ahead of Rangers on goals scored as both have the same goal difference after the four-goal swing today.

Rangers’ players head towards their pocket of fans in the corner of the ground. It’s celebrations all round as they bounce up and down while two-goal hero Youssef Chermiti does a jig of joy. Some clenched fists and waves from manager Danny Rohl, who has quietly turned Rangers’ season around. The win takes them level with Celtic, the two Glasgow giants now both three behind leaders Hearts.

90+5 min: Rangers just seconds away…

90+4 min: Araujo smashes an angled shot but Butland has been impressive today and beats the effort away. Celtic have a corner which Raskin heads behind for another. Fernandez deals with the follow up.

90+3 min: A high foot in the Rangers box and then a non-league style thrash around as the away side try to clear. They get away with it. Two minutes left.

90+2 min: Miovski is booked just seconds after coming on.

90+2 min: No hat-trick for Chermiti but the Portuguese forward has done his job – and some – with two goals. He’s replaced by Bojan Miovski.

90+1 min: We go into the first minute of the extra five. Rangers have Celtic boxed in down by the home side’s corner flag.

89 min: Rumour has it there will be five added minutes.

88 min: Now Celtic shuffle the pack. Tierney and Rolston are replaced by Liam Scales and James Forrest.

86 min: Rangers bring on skipper James Tavernier in place of Gassama. Souttar hands Tavernier the captain’s armband as the visitors run down the clock.

84 min: Celtic trying to build up a head of steam as they pin Rangers back. The Hoops win a corner on the right but it’s headed back to the taker. The ball comes in again and Butland does a save for the cameras to catch Tierney’s header back across goal.

82 min: The clock is ticking for Celtic – and maybe for Nancy’s future as manager.

80 min: A section of Celtic fans are heading to the exit. They’ve seen enough even though their team does actually have a good record for scoring late goals this season.

79 min: But don’t rule out a fourth from Rangers either. Gassama, free in the box, almost gets on the end of a pass but Celtic get away with it.

78 min: Dramatic defending from Souttar as, from three yards out, he blocks Engels’ cross, the ball deflecting back into the grateful arms of Butland when a goal looked almost certain without the intervention. Maybe this isn’t done yet!

77 min: Yang isn’t looking as effective since being switched to the left – a point that won’t be lost on Celtic’s fans.

76 min: If we’re being honest, both sides lack quality so don’t rule out a Celtic fightback. Rangers are certainly winning the mental battle though and full credit to them for exploiting Celtic’s weaknesses.

74 min: Yamada and Hatate are introduced for Celtic as Nancy tries to perhaps save his job. Kenny and Nygren make way.

69 min: Into the final quarter and Celtic need a big finish. Yang, Celtic’s biggest threat, has now switched to the left after that home substitution. Is that smart?

68 min: An easy take for Schmeichel from the corner although he ends in a heap as Souttar gives him a nudge.

67 min: Celtic make a switch as new signing
Julian Araujo replaces McCowan. Rangers win a corner as Nancy juggles his XI.

Simon McMahon emails.

“As warm up acts go this is half decent, David, as all of Scotland waits for the main event at Tannadice where the Dundee derby kicks off after this game ends. Currently in Frews Bar, a short walk from the ground, which is packed with fans of both clubs exchanging New Year pleasantries, just like every bar in Glasgow. Come on United!!!”

65 min: Celtic’s confidence is so fragile that a third Rangers goal could kill this. Chermiti is on a hat-trick and almost has the chance to run at goal again but the ball bobbles away from him.

63 min: A penny for Nancy’s thoughts. Celtic were dominating but two quickfire goals from Rangers and they’re behind. The French boss is staring at a sixth defeat in eight games.

61 min: My word, Celtic almost level it up. A lovely little layoff finds Maeda whose angled shot fizzes just wide of Butland’s left-hand post.

58 min: Lively stuff so far in the second half and Butland has to take a Yang bouncing cross. Strong response from Celtic since Rangers equalised but suddenly…

57 min: Yang swings at a loose ball in the box but the shot hits his own player and goes behind for a goalkick. Where would that have ended up? He caught it flush.

56 min: Engels whips in the free-kick and Yang’s flicked header is turned behind by Butland. Good save.

55 min: McGregor nods away the corner and now Celtic break through Kenny. Gassama is late with his tackle as Kenny crosses and picks up a yellow card. Celtic have a free-kick to the right of the box.

53 min: Celtic almost re-take the lead! McCowan threads a lovely little through pass to Maeda but the Japanese star’s left-foot shot from eight yards out is well blocked by Butland. Down the other end Rangers win a corner.

48 min: Big ironic cheers from the home crowd as Fernandez rather clumsily lumps a clearance out of play. However, the atmosphere is less jocular as Rangers almost get in behind. But…

47 min: Celtic win a corner on the left as they get in behind again. It’s headed out to McGregor who chests it down on the edge of the area and fires a shot not too far wide.

45+1 min: Rangers have the ball in the net! Moore was onside for the tap-in but the flag was always going to go up due to Rangers’ Chermiti being offside in the build-up. A little warning sign perhaps as the half-time whistle goes.

45+1 min: Two added minutes to play. Mikey Moore’s shot is blocked for a corner after another poor clearance from Schmeichel.

44 min: Good hold-up play from Kenny, who finds Yang out on the right. He’s been a real threat so far but this time blazes a cross - or was it a shot? - well over the Rangers bar.

43 min: Chermiti wins a free-kick on the right. A chance to put a ball into the Celtic box. Barron takes but the flag goes up for offside as Chermiti wins the header. More frustration for the visitors.

41 min: Rangers just haven’t strung anything together to this point. Just the odd moment. Passes now going astray as they try and build something but the ball won’t stick.

39 min: Under Nancy, Celtic’s only two wins have come against a 10-man Aberdeen and bottom club Livingston. This would easily be his best result (and performance?) so far if it plays out the same way after the break. Rangers will have different ideas though.

37 min: One thing we do know about this Rangers side under Rohl is that they’re resilient and won’t fold easily. But, right now, the Gers boss will be happy to get in just 1-0 down. Another Celtic chance as McCowan heads goalwards from around 15 yards after a cross from the lively Yang but that’s straightforward enough for Butland.

35 min: Yang threatens to get in again after a ball over the top but Butland is quickly off his line to snuff out the danger. It’s too easy for Celtic to get in behind. The shot count has risen to 10-2 in the hosts’ favour.

34 min: Engels pulls the trigger from 25 yards out in a central position but his shot is blocked. Rangers hanging on a bit here.

32 min: Celtic enjoying just under 60% possession and they’ve had five shots to just two from Rangers. The hosts also lead the touches in the opposition box count: 7-5.

Make that seven shots to two! Kenny flashes in a fierce left-foot shot from the edge of the area which Butland palms away. Yang then keeps the ball in play as the Rangers goalkeeper flaps at a high ball before another Celtic shot clears the bar by a long way. Nancy will be desperate for his side to add a second goal ASAP.

30 min: Celtic lead but it’s genuinely hard to say who scores the next goal. It’s fascinatingly poised with half an hour gone.

28 min: Rangers are sniffing a leveller here but every time they go forward and create a bit of danger, Celtic threaten to punish them on the break.

26 min: So close to a Rangers equaliser. The ball finds a way through, somewhat fortunately, to Gassama but, one-on-one, Schmeichel does what his Dad used to in this situation by making himself big and pawing away the lofted shot.

25 min: Danger for Celtic. A shot is deflected into the air and Schmeichel decides to pursue it but doesn’t get to the ball first. Thankfully, his defence helps him out. Celtic break – yet again – and Kenny’s shot is blocked.

23 min: Even in this troubled season, Celtic have won all seven matches at home in the SPL this term when scoring the first goal.

22 min: Rangers can’t say they weren’t warned. Celtic had been cranking the pressure up and just 23 seconds after Kenny had missed a glorious chance, Yang took matters into his own hands.

18 min: Corner for Rangers on the left. It’s deep to the far post where Chermiti nods it back but Celtic hold firm.

17 min: Nancy makes notes on the sideline. Eggs. Bread. Something nice for Sunday lunch. The jokes write themselves.

16 min: Rangers win a free-kick and load the box, five players standing behind Celtic’s rearguard. The ball is whipped in by Barron form the right-hand touchline but he doesn’t clear the two home defenders. A waste.

15 min: That first 15 minutes has flown by. Rangers started the better but Celtic are very much on top now.

14 min: Engels sends in the corner and Trusty, rising above everyone just outside the six-yard box, heads wide. Massive chance. The big defender should have buried that.

12 min: Celtic really stretching Rangers again on the break through Kenny and Raskin gets a vital foot in on the edge of the area. A rocky patch this for Rangers and Souttar now concedes a corner.

10 min: Celtic get in behind again but the ball to Yang is overhit. They recycle possession and McGregor tugs his shot from outside of the box wide of Butland’s post. Not a great hit but the first real effort on goal.

9 min: Kenny gets in behind and flashes a ball across the Rangers six-yard box but no Celtic shirt is there for what would have been a tap-in. Best moment of the match so far. The Hoops press again and Sterling has to make a vital interception.

7 min: A first booking of the game for Aasgaard, who was sent off in the League Cup semi. A poor touch allows McCowan to escape so Aasgaard pulls him back and takes the booking.

6 min: Rangers have made the brighter start, winning duels and forcing Celtic back. Schmeichel with another poor kick gives the visitors a throw-in.

4 min: First little moment of controversy as Engels goes down after catching an arm in the face by Fernandez. Nothing given as the Celtic No.27 gets to his feet.

3 min: Celtic play the ball around at the back and Schmeichel’s kick isn’t convincing. That won’t help settle the home crowd.

1 min: Rangers win a throw-in deep in the Celtic half but don’t opt to hurl in a long one. So much so the ball ends up back with goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Wilfried Nancy, looking rather pensive, takes his seat pitchside. A huge day for the Celtic boss.

A rousing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” blares out from the terraces. We’re five minutes away from the latest edition of this classic derby.

Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy has his say ahead of kick-off. Teams now warming up.

“This is a special game. It’s a rivalry, so we know the importance of this game. My player wants to do well for them, obviously, but also for the fans, for the club.

“This is a good game to play, obviously, with a lot of pressure. But all the games against Rangers are like this, so the player knows that. So now it’s to play and express ourselves.

“Motherwell was another game. Today is a new game, so there is no comparison. So what I want to have is my team to play, to go forward when this is the moment, to keep the ball when this is the moment and to compete. For me, this is the most important to win the game.

“Tactically I want to see something and also in terms of freshness I want to see something. Like every team, you know, they [Rangers] try to play when this is the moment and also to play direct. So we are aware about this. So the idea is to attack well but also to defend well, to be balanced when we attack.

“Motherwell was a setback I would say. But I’m not concerned by that because I know the context of the game.”

A reminder that we also have a 12.30pm kick-off in the Premier League. That’ll be Aston Villa hosting Nottingham Forest and Sarah Rendell has live coverage.

Here’s Rangers boss Danny Röhl speaking ahead of kick-off. This is his first league Old Firm derby.

“I think in the last couple of weeks we took a lot of good results. We come with more belief, with more convictions. I think this is important.

“And for me, the two things, we have to be emotionally ready. I know we will. And I want to see a team who is also, from the technical side, very well organised today.

“And if we do this together, we have a good opportunity to take something. As you mentioned, we have been winning games, but it’s that feeling that we need.”

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton describes Wilfried Nancy’s pre-match press conference as “really, really odd” as he speaks live pitchside. Plenty would agree. Here’s Ewan Murray’s piece on the Frenchman’s “impassioned defence” of his methods and poor start.

A quick look at the SPL table with kick-off just under an hour away. Rangers can pull level with Celtic on 38 points with a win.

Incidentally, Celtic remains favourites to win the title despite their recent blips. Current odds: 10/11 Celtic, 15/8 Hearts, 4/1 Rangers.

Sky Sports going with a ‘Stranger Things’-themed intro to reflect the rather odd seasons both Old Firm sides have endured. I need my daughter in the room to get some of the references.

Celtic make three changes from their woeful 2-0 defeat against Motherwell last time. But there’s only a place on the bench for new signing Julian Araujo, who has joined on loan from Bournemouth. Celtic bring in Arne Engels, Luke McCowan and Johnny Kenny from the team that lost at Fir Park while Liam Scales, Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate move to the bench.

Rangers boss Danny Röhl makes two changes from the side that edged out Kilmarnock 2-1. Skipper James Tavernier and Mohamed Diomande are named among the substitutes as in come Dujon Sterling and Connor Barron.

It’s a chilly one degree at Celtic Park today although the ‘feels like’ thermometer symbol shows -3. Then again, in Ohio, where Wilfried Nancy previously managed Columbus Crew, it’s -7 (no higher than -3 all day) so he clearly moved to Glasgow for the weather.