Dundee United ended a seven-game winless run and a 24-match wait against Celtic as they came from behind to secure a 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory at Tannadice, leaving Wilfried Nancy under mounting pressure after four successive defeats since taking charge of the Hoops.
The result, sealed by second-half strikes from Krisztian Keresztes and Zac Sapsford, compounded a day of turmoil for the reigning champions, who also saw chairman Peter Lawwell announce his resignation citing threats and abuse from supporters.
Early Spark From Celtic
Celtic appeared to respond positively to their recent League Cup final defeat, taking the lead in the 13th minute through Daizen Maeda, who finished clinically after a flick-on from Johnny Kenny.
The Japanese forward repeatedly tested United’s defense in the first half, exploiting Bert Esselink’s slow movement and combining well with Kenny and Luke McCowan. Kenny also had a golden opportunity to double the lead but delayed his shot and failed to score.
Celtic dominated early but struggled to convert their chances, with United creating few openings in the first half, highlighted by Max Watters’ miss from close range.
United Turn the Game Around
The match turned after the interval, with United capitalizing on the slope advantage and Celtic’s defensive vulnerabilities.
- Krisztian Keresztes equalized from a Vicko Sevelj assist, calmly placing the ball into the far corner.
- Zac Sapsford then delivered the winner with an audacious finish past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as Celtic struggled to clear the ball.
Despite Maeda hitting the post from six yards late on, Celtic could not salvage a point, marking Nancy’s fourth consecutive defeat – the first Celtic manager to suffer such a run since Jock Stein, 47 years ago.
Analysis: Nancy’s Tactics Under Scrutiny
Nancy persisted with his favored 3-4-3 formation, making four changes, two enforced, but the setup failed to protect a vulnerable backline.
- Full-backs Anthony Ralston and Kieran Tierney flanked Auston Trusty at center-back, leaving gaps exploited by United.
- The substitutions and positional shifts could not prevent Celtic from conceding two set-piece goals in quick succession after halftime.
United manager Jim Goodwin praised his team’s resilience:
“It’s been a long time since we beat Celtic at home. This is a good result for the fans, and it gives us confidence despite our league position.”
Nancy, meanwhile, lamented missed opportunities:
“We lost the game in three minutes – two set-pieces we conceded. We had several clear chances and if we had converted those tap-ins, it would have been a different score.”
What’s Next for Both Clubs?
- Dundee United host Hibernian on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
- Celtic entertain Aberdeen on Sunday (15:00 GMT).
Player of the Match
- Zac Sapsford (Dundee United) – 8.81
- Krisztian Keresztes (Dundee United) – 8.56
- A. Fatah (Dundee United) – 8.43
- L. Stephenson (Dundee United) – 8.40
- R. Graham (Dundee United) – 8.08
Sapsford’s decisive goal and Keresztes’ equalizer were pivotal in ending Celtic’s 11-year winless streak at Tannadice and adding to the pressure on Nancy’s managerial reign.
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