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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.
Celtic’s beleaguered directors now face a critical and imminent decision over whether to keep faith with the Frenchman or write his appointment off as a bad mistake. This marked a sixth defeat in eight games for Nancy. It arrived against the backdrop of revolt from paying customers. Celtic feel an on- and off-field mess. Nancy is on the precipice.
The weird thing about this game was that for 45 minutes, Celtic were very good. Yang Hyun-jun gave them a fully merited lead, with Rangers clearly second best. The damning thing for Nancy – or merely the latest thing – was how pitifully Celtic reacted to Rangers gaining a foothold in the derby. A Rangers team that has encountered the Russell Martin debacle earlier in the campaign is now level on points with Celtic. A Youssef Chermiti double and Mikey Moore goal secured the away win.
Nervousness had been evident among the home support at kick-off. It took nine minutes to the atmosphere to represent an Old Firm fixture, Johnny Kenny flashing a ball across Jack Butland’s goal. Celtic’s followers had received the encouragement they so desperately craved.
Kenny’s play triggered a spell of Celtic dominance. In fact, Rangers were highly fortunate not to be more than a single goal behind at the break. Auston Trusty should have found the net from an Arne Engels corner, but fired his free header wide. Butland saved smartly with his feet from Kenny. Celtic needed more cutting edge, how Yang supplied it.
There appeared little danger when the South Korean collected the ball just inside the touchline on the Celtic right. Yang danced past Thelo Aasgaard and Nico Raskin – whose attempts at defending were feeble – before crashing a magnificent shot into the roof of Butland’s net. It was a stunning goal, produced by a player who was close to joining Birmingham on the final day of the last transfer window.
Rangers spent the remainder of the half in a state of panic every time Celtic played early balls forward. This was a version of Nancy’s team people could easily get behind; aggressive and with midfielders breaking forward at will. What the hosts lacked was a striker with suitable speed and ruthlessness to benefit from effective buildup work.
Rangers had the ball in the net through Moore on the stroke of half-time, only for Chermiti rightly to be ruled offside before feeding the Tottenham loanee. This was to serve as a warning Celtic failed to heed.
The visitors started the second period with a renewed purpose. It took them a mere five minutes to equalise, Raskin shrugging off the attentions of Trusty before cutting the ball back for Chermiti. The former Everton man flicked beyond Kasper Schmeichel from six yards.
Now came the latest test for Nancy and his players; how would they respond to a moment of adversity? Failure to appropriately do that has been a theme under him. So it was to prove again. Chermiti, a player initially ridiculed upon arrival at Ibrox, picked the pocket of Anthony Ralston as Celtic botched a throw-in routine. Chermiti raced through on goal before beating Schmeichel.
Things were to get even better for Rangers and worse for Schmeichel, whose woeful form has been a theme for more months than Celtic seem willing to recognise. Moore’s shot should have caused the veteran no real problem, but Schmeichel was woefully slow to dive.
Cue an exodus from the stands and chanting against the Celtic board, who have presided over a staggering period of decline since Bayern Munich were scared in last season’s Champions League knockout phase. Dermot Desmond, the main shareholder, had plenty to say as Brendan Rodgers departed Celtic in October. Desmond was nowhere to be seen for this capitulation.
Rangers needed one more goal to move above Celtic. It did not arrive, which barely bothered a 2,500-strong contingent in blue. Rangers can dream of stealing Celtic’s title. Celtic have to ponder how on earth it got to this.
