A roar of approval from the Celtic Park faithful at full-time was a sound so unfamiliar to Wilfried Nancy it left the French manager looking momentarily bewildered. For the first time since his arrival, the home supporters had reason to cheer his team, as a dramatic, late 2-1 victory over Aberdeen finally delivered his maiden win at the fifth attempt and likely preserved his job.
A Match Fraught With Tension and Missed Chances
The atmosphere around Celtic Park was tense even before kick-off, with a group of fans protesting against the club's hierarchy. On the pitch, Celtic started brightly but were plagued by familiar profligacy. Johnny Kenny missed two golden opportunities in the first half, while Daizen Maeda somehow fired wide from six yards after Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov fumbled a corner.
The breakthrough finally came five minutes before half-time. Benjamin Nygren slotted home his ninth goal of the season from a Maeda cutback, bringing a palpable sense of relief to the stands. The hosts' advantage was compounded just before the interval when Aberdeen's Dylan Lobban was shown a straight red card for pulling back Maeda, who was clean through after intercepting a terrible pass from Mitov.
Celtic's Vulnerability Almost Proves Costly Again
Despite dominating possession and creating a host of chances against ten men, Celtic's defensive frailties resurfaced. Mitov made several excellent saves after the break, and the woodwork was struck twice, but the expected onslaught never materialised. Aberdeen equalised against the run of play with 15 minutes remaining, as substitute Kenan Bilalovic finished coolly after being played in by Kjartan Mar Kjartansson, with keeper Kasper Schmeichel unable to keep the effort out.
With the game heading for a draw that would have sparked fury, defender Kieran Tierney emerged as the unlikely hero, powering in a header from a Colby Donovan cross in stoppage time. James Forrest added a third moments later to seal a flattering scoreline.
What This Result Means for Nancy and Celtic
This victory, however nervy, provides Wilfried Nancy with a crucial lifeline and something tangible to build upon. The performance highlighted ongoing issues—individual errors, wastefulness in front of goal, and defensive uncertainty—but the three points temporarily lift the intense pressure. Celtic remain within touching distance of league leaders Hearts, who defeated Rangers earlier in the day.
For Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin, there will be frustration that his side could not hold on for a point after a resolute second-half display with ten men. The red card for Lobban was a pivotal moment from which his team never fully recovered.
The result does little to address the deeper discontent among the Celtic support regarding the club's direction, but for Nancy, it represents a vital, if imperfect, step forward. Tough fixtures away to Livingston and Motherwell await before the next Old Firm derby on January 3rd.
