The Celtic spiral towards self-implosion had already endured another outrageous day
22:00, 17 Dec 2025Updated 22:19, 17 Dec 2025
Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for Celtic.
A chairman announcing his resignation in the face of blistering abuse just hours before kick off.
A chief executive following up by taking a flamethrower to “completely unacceptable” conduct among sections of the support.
Wilfried Nancy himself admitting his “ass is on fire” after just three games.
The Celtic spiral towards self-implosion had already endured another outrageous day by the time the Hoops team bus arrived at Tannadice.
But last night it took yet another ugly turn right into crisis mode as Dundee United became the latest side to pour petrol on the smouldering Parkhead powder keg.
Second half goals from Krisztián Keresztes and Zac Sapsford cancelled out Daizen Maeda’s opener and turned what looked to be heading for Nancy’s first victory as Hoops boss into a fourth straight defeat.
And when the chants of ‘Sack the Board turned to ‘Nancy Get Tae F*** it was clear the Frenchman is already in danger of seeing his Parkhead career go up in flames after just 14 days.
United showed the champions how to be clinical at one end and soak up pressure at the other.
Yet Celtic were well in control in the opening half. Yang and Jonny Kenny twice went close before Maeda opened the scoring on 13 minutes.
A slack ball into the middle of the park was picked up by Austin Trusty who fed Kenny and his pass was perfect for the Japanese to size up Bert Esselink before taking the big Dutchman to the cleaners and firing an angled effort past Dave Richards.
Yet for all their first half dominance Celtic were only a goal to the good. And it took a smart Kasper Schmeichel save to deny Zac Sapsford after the break as United finally exerted some pressure.
Just before the hour they were level through Keresztes.
Not for the first time Celtic failed to deal with a ball lumped into their box. Ralston failed to clear and the ball got worked back to the Hungarian who slammed home from inside the box.
Suddenly chants of “Keep the Board’ were echoing round the home end. The game had swung on its axis and Schmeichel again had to stand tall to deny Max Watters.
But incredibly United forged ahead through Sapsford on 62 minutes. The frontman took the ball on his right foot just inside the box and wide on the left and bent a stunning effort beyond Schmeichel.
From being stable Celtic were now rocking. Badly.
Shin Yamada climbed off the bench and passed up two decent chances.
And Maeda clattered the post with a header in the closing five minutes as Celtic’s season hit crisis mode. 5 talking points
Wil but no way
If Wilfried Nancy’s ass was on fire ahead of this it’s a full on inferno now. The chants of ‘Nancy, Nancy Get Tae F***’ showed the Frenchman is firmly in the crosshairs now. It’s hard to argue with that after losing all four of his games. The first time Celtic have suffered that since 1978.
He didn’t help himself pre-match when he claimed he had nothing to prove to anyone. The court of public opinion certainly begs to differ and it’s starting to look arrogant. The way his team collapsed under the first hint of United pressure summed up another messy night where Hoops completely lost control of a game they should have had out of sight.
Quite simply Nancy must prove he has the wherewithal to get a tune out of this squad of players who might well be in need of reinforcements but should still be producing far better results and performances.
It could have been so much better had Johnny Kenny had his shooting boots on right enough. Three huge first half chances went begging. The Irishman could have had a hat full.
Fan fury
The Celtic punters made their point clear in the stands. They might have got their first victim with Lawwell announcing he was leaving but that’s not changed the mood in then stands.
A giant banner reading ‘Celtic’s Shame’ carried an arrow that pointed right into the small box where Michel Nicholson, Brian Wilson and Chris McKay sat with Lawwell a very obvious absentee.
The Celtic board are confronted by the travelling Hoops support inside Tannadice
The small print on the sign stated “one down, more to go” before it was scrambled away by police after just a few minutes. And for the rest of the night the cops had to form a human shield to protect the directors.
But throughout this 90 minutes Tannadice echoed to chants of ‘sack the board’.
Anyone thinking this will all go away thanks to Lawwell’s decision will need to think again.
United they stand
If Celtic fell to bits United were, well united. The Tannadice men hadn’t beaten Celtic in 11 years. That’s 23 games. And they hadn’t won any of their last seven matches coming into this. At half time it looked nailed on to become eight. Yet a half time rocket from Jim Goodwin produced a sense of urgency in his team managed to turn the game on its head. United could barely string two passes together in the first half and created nothing. Whether that lulled Celtic into a false sense security, who knows? But they were everything in the second half that they hadn’t been in the first – tidy with their passing, aggressive attacking and defending – and clinical in their finishing.
Celts’ corner confusion
It’s been the downfall of every one of Nancy’s defeats. An inability to defend corners. United never had a flag kick until the second half but when they turned the screw Celtic had no answer. Their two goals might not have come directly from corners but the second phase after Hoops defenders failed to properly clear their lines. Anthony Ralston got caught for the equaliser. And Johnny Kenny for the second. Teams are playing on it now. Hearts, St Mirren and United have now all benefited from the Hoops lack of height and strength at defending set pieces.
Maeda mystery
Daizen Maeda looked far more like himself back out on the left where he caused Ryan Strain and Bert Esselink all sorts of problems running in behind in the first half. Three trademark bursts beyond his man should have led to goals had Yang and Kenny not had their boots on the wrong feet in front of goal.
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy
Maeda had no problem in that regard though and his goal was top drawer. Esselink will be unscrewing himself from the turf after being turned by the rapid Japanese whose left foot effort gave keeper Richards no chance.
Yet for some reason he fell right out the game after the break as United took control. His hot and cold performance summed up exactly where Celtic are right now.