Celtic finally found a glimmer of hope under Wilfried Nancy, as the French manager recorded his first win in charge following a turbulent opening 17 days. Celtic overcame 10-man Aberdeen 3-1 at Celtic Park, keeping them within six points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts with a game in hand.

Dominant Second-Half Display

Celtic’s performance, particularly during a 20-minute spell after halftime, was reminiscent of the club’s glory days under Brendan Rodgers, Ange Postecoglou, and Martin O’Neill. The home side dominated possession, creating 31 shots, 10 on target, and boasting an xG (expected goals) of 4.5, yet only led 1-0 for much of the second half.

Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring, clipping the ball past Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov. Celtic continued to press relentlessly, with chances falling to Arne Engels, Anthony Ralston, Auston Trusty, Johnny Kenny, and James Forrest, but the visitors repeatedly survived, highlighting both Mitov’s heroics and Celtic’s finishing struggles.

Aberdeen’s Shock Equalizer

Despite Celtic’s dominance, Kenan Bilalovic scored with 16 minutes remaining to level the match for Aberdeen, who were down to 10 men following Dylan Lobban’s first-half sending-off. The goal briefly silenced Celtic Park, raising concerns among fans and pundits about Nancy’s ability to maintain control and composure under pressure.

Late Goals Secure Victory

Celtic’s numerical advantage eventually told. Late strikes from Kieran Tierney and James Forrest restored the lead and secured a 3-1 victory. Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner praised Nancy for sticking to his preferred 3-4-3 system, highlighting the manager’s commitment to his tactical approach despite early criticism.

Nancy Under Pressure

Nancy’s start at Celtic has been rocky. Prior to this win, the team had suffered four consecutive defeats across the Premiership, League Cup, and Europa League. Fan unrest, including protests along the Celtic Way, underscored the challenges the new manager faces.

Despite the positive result, analysts stress that Nancy must strengthen the squad in January transfer window, particularly defensively, to consolidate his system. Bonner noted:

“He’s just got to tighten up those defensive qualities and might bring in a player to consolidate that. If they don’t, more questions will be asked.”

Key Takeaways

Celtic finally found a glimmer of hope under Wilfried Nancy, as the French manager recorded his first win in charge following a turbulent opening 17 days. Celtic overcame 10-man Aberdeen 3-1 at Celtic Park, keeping them within six points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts with a game in hand.

Dominant Second-Half Display

Celtic’s performance, particularly during a 20-minute spell after halftime, was reminiscent of the club’s glory days under Brendan Rodgers, Ange Postecoglou, and Martin O’Neill. The home side dominated possession, creating 31 shots, 10 on target, and boasting an xG (expected goals) of 4.5, yet only led 1-0 for much of the second half.

Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring, clipping the ball past Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov. Celtic continued to press relentlessly, with chances falling to Arne Engels, Anthony Ralston, Auston Trusty, Johnny Kenny, and James Forrest, but the visitors repeatedly survived, highlighting both Mitov’s heroics and Celtic’s finishing struggles.

Aberdeen’s Shock Equalizer

Despite Celtic’s dominance, Kenan Bilalovic scored with 16 minutes remaining to level the match for Aberdeen, who were down to 10 men following Dylan Lobban’s first-half sending-off. The goal briefly silenced Celtic Park, raising concerns among fans and pundits about Nancy’s ability to maintain control and composure under pressure.

Late Goals Secure Victory

Celtic’s numerical advantage eventually told. Late strikes from Kieran Tierney and James Forrest restored the lead and secured a 3-1 victory. Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner praised Nancy for sticking to his preferred 3-4-3 system, highlighting the manager’s commitment to his tactical approach despite early criticism.

Nancy Under Pressure

Nancy’s start at Celtic has been rocky. Prior to this win, the team had suffered four consecutive defeats across the Premiership, League Cup, and Europa League. Fan unrest, including protests along the Celtic Way, underscored the challenges the new manager faces.

Despite the positive result, analysts stress that Nancy must strengthen the squad in January transfer window, particularly defensively, to consolidate his system. Bonner noted:

“He’s just got to tighten up those defensive qualities and might bring in a player to consolidate that. If they don’t, more questions will be asked.”

Key Takeaways

• Celtic beat 10-man Aberdeen 3-1 to record Wilfried Nancy’s first win as manager.
• Dominant second-half performance created 31 shots, 10 on target, xG 4.5.
• Kenan Bilalovic equalized late for Aberdeen, but Tierney and Forrest scored to secure victory.
• Nancy remains under pressure with fan protests and early-season scrutiny.
• January transfer window will be crucial to reinforce defensive stability.