Wilfried Nancy launchs unprovoked attack on Celtic fans following performance against heart

HBy Wilfried Nancy washed out on Celtic debut as Hearts title wave sweeps league leaders clear – 5 talking points
The table toppers stunned a rain-soaked Celtic Park with an 2-1 win move three points clear at the Premiership summit

Wilfried Nancy had the spotlight shining on him as he got to work at Celtic. But, once it was over, the glare was firmly fixed back onto Derek McInnes and his terrific table toppers.

Talk in recent weeks was about bubbles bursting at Hearts. Well in Glasgow’s East End, they took a giant Jambo pin to pop every balloon at the first-day party for Nancy.

Claudio Braga’s first-half opener and an Oisin McEntee header after the break didn’t just wreck the new Parkhead manager’s baptism, they provided a monumental lift for McInnes’ men once again as they surged three points clear again at the top.

Nancy made big calls. Changed the shape from the five-game winning run of interim Martin O’Neill which had reeled back the

But they didn’t pay-off. Despite a bright beginning where Daizen Maeda blew two huge chances to get the champions off and running, it was Hearts who grew to deliver the killer blows and enjoy the celebrations.

Braga took advantage of the hosts switching off to bag a crucial opener moments before the interval. And, when McEntee bulleted home a superb header, McInnes’ men had shot Nancy’s day to bits.

Nancy has promised to assess his squad before he plans Celtic’s next market moves and it didn’t need this setback to say big work is needed in January.

The home fans booed Santa the last time Hearts won in their stadium. This time it was the board getting it,

But McInnes’ team will also make improvements and, having forged their way into a clear lead again at the top, it was a huge success which tells their rivals that, on this type of showing, they are not going to just roll over and go away.

It was a fabulous win for Hearts, but they had to get through a fraught beginning with Maeda having two superb chances inside nine minutes to give Nancy the perfect start.

The Japanese got onto the end of supply from Kieran Tierney and Sebastian Tounekti, yet choked his first effort and nudged his second wide.

Celtic would pay for those as, having stemmed the flow, Hearts surged ahead two minutes from the interval when time seemed to stand still.

Lawrence Shankland’s cross was half-cleared by Liam Scales and Celtic seemed to almost stop and switch-off thinking there was an offside from the initial return header by Cammy Devlin

But Arne Engels played everyone onside and, after Harry Milne’s mishit shot, Braga forged ahead of Callum McGregor to wriggle clear and shoot past Kasper Schmeichel

VAR confirmed the goal and, suddenly, the mood had changed from carnival to stress in the home stands with Jambos jubilant in the corner.

Celtic were out early for the restart, but it was Hearts who took the next decisive step after 64 minutes with a second goal of mass simplicity.

Shankland’s near-post strike was pushed behind by Schmecihel and Milne produced a deep and out-swinging delivery from the resultant corner.

McEntee was free in space and his brilliant header was powerful and precise as it crashed into the net for a critical second goal.

Celtic’s attempts at a fightback were limited and, although Reo Hatate hit the bar and Tierney flashed home a strike in injury-time, the damage had been done and Hearts got over the line.

The Tynecastle had frittered an eight-point lead away from the day they sank Celtic at Tynecastle seeing their credentials to stay at the top questioned. This win doesn’t mean they are going to stay there for the duration, but it quashes talk of burst bubbles and should act to offer a fresh shot of confidence and belief through the squad. This was the Hearts which were talk of the early term. Resilient at the back, tigerish in the engine room and a punch up top. Celtic can still draw level again if they win their game in hand, but this says Hearts aren’t going away.

Day one scrutiny

The new manager put his stamp onto the starting line-up straight away with a back three deployed and two boxes ahead of that in midfield with wing-backs Yang and Tounekti as Maeda played the central attacking position. The aim was clearly to take central control. Patterns of play and movements on and off the ball will take time to settle into the team psyche and it was a bold call by Nancy to make in such a big, first game. Ultimately, the result tells you it did not pay off. Celtic were good until they lost the opening goal, but the response to that in the second period was disappointing.

There were times in the match when the visitors had to dig deep and make sure they stayed in the game, but there was an intent to hurt. Braga and Kyziridis got high at times either side of Shankland and Tomas Magnusson was willing to go right up alongside his captain to make a line of four at times to test the reshaped home backline. Goals had dried up during the recent weak run, but Braga came good on the big stage with Shankland superb.

Wider responsibility at Celtic

Nancy’s new set-up asked questions of Yang and Tounekti. The South Korean is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s hard to knock the 23-year-old for his recent efforts. Traits such as fighting back to win the ball and running hard were evident, but the Tunisian is simply not having an impact. Restored at the expense of Luke McCowan in a risky call by Nancy, he was unable to make a real contribution and frustrated fans before he was eventually replaced by the Scot and Yang switched over. If the new Celtic manager is going to have joy with this set-up, he needs to add genuine quality for those positions.

Can Celtic march forward together?

There were protest marches from the Celtic fans outside of the stadium prior to kick off and spaces in the Green Brigade section, yet banners in there and at other sections against the board displayed as the teams emerged for kick-off. Nancy says he’s a coach and his job is just about the team. But the unity which was called for O’Neill is going to be crucial to the champions as they try to push under the new boss through a key period of the campaign. It’s one thing Hearts have at the moment. Total harmony across their club from boardroom to fanbase.