Scottish League Cup: St Mirren 3 (Fraser 2, Ayunga 64, 76) Celtic 1 (Hatate 23)
Blame and plenty of it is now flying around at Celtic. This defeat, a third in as many games for Wilfried Nancy as the manager, plunged the club firmly into a state of crisis. What a festive fiasco.
There is a scenario in which Nancy changes Celtic’s fortunes. The trouble for the Frenchman is, that feels so highly unlikely. One of the finest days in St Mirren’s history saw them deservedly claim the League Cup for only the second time in 148 years.
Yet it was impossible to ignore the desperate nature of Celtic’s performance. Celtic have swapped Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill – elite managers who fully comprehend this environment – for a project under Nancy that is already covered in red flags. Another key attribute shared by Rodgers and O’Neill is experience. Nancy is in a situation he has never encountered before in football.
Nancy is a symptom rather than the cause of Celtic’s decline. Under Rodgers, great headway was made in last season’s Champions League and, despite the odd bump, domestic dominance was a near-certainty. The failure to build on European progress in transfer windows triggered not only the exit of Rodgers but widespread supporter discontent, epitomised by an AGM that had to be abandoned. There is a lack of accountability among the Celtic hierarchy that rightly angers paying punters.
RM Block
O’Neill’s caretaker spell pre-Nancy was only ever supposed to be that yet at least the 73-year-old won games. O’Neill retains presence. The lack of hype from Celtic around Nancy’s appointment left the impression even his paymasters were unsure of what was coming next. Hearts, Roma and now St Mirren have revelled in Celtic’s vulnerability. It is pretty difficult to envisage how Celtic extricate themselves from this trauma. Even the spending of fortunes in January, presumably to endorse Nancy’s football theories, looks dangerous.
Not that Nancy is blameless. His insistence on switching to a back three has looked problematic from the start, namely because Celtic lack wing backs and appropriate balance at centre half. The shipping of eight goals in three games tells a story. Celtic’s midfield, a recent strength, is suddenly ragged. Nancy’s messaging to the media, as again the case post-match here, verges on waffle. What on earth, then, must players think?
The Frenchman admitted defeat was “painful” before bemoaning Celtic’s “failure to connect” the game and said his squad carries “self-doubt”. Nancy added: “I know where we are now and I know where we want to go. If you don’t know me, you might think I am all over the place but I know exactly what I need to do. I am the manager and I need to find solutions.” He must source them before Wednesday night and a trip to Dundee United.
As Nancy floundered, this was a triumph for his opposite number at St Mirren. Northern Irishman Stephen Robinson out-thought and out-coached Nancy. St Mirren’s cup final plans had been disrupted by a call from Mikael Mandron to his manager at 7.30am, stating he had been sick all night. Mandron had been due to start at centre forward. “I want being as comfortable as we were today to be recognised,” said Robinson. And it should be.
The Paisley side surged ahead inside 100 seconds. Marcus Fraser reacted quickest to meet a Keanu Baccus corner for the third goal Celtic had lost from that form of set play in three games. Kasper Schmeichel was slow with his attempt to save, which is becoming something of a theme. Dan Nlundulu should have doubled the St Mirren lead but instead fired wide from close range. Celtic responded strongly enough. Reo Hatate ghosted in at the back post as Kieran Tierney floated in a cross. Hatate’s volley restored parity.
What happened next was ominous for Nancy. As St Mirren seized second-half initiative, Celtic had no reply. Schmeichel was in no man’s land as Jonah Ayunga rose to meet Alex Gogic’s chipped cross. Ayunga’s second of the afternoon arrived after Miguel Freckleton found the marauding Declan John with a terrific pass and the Welshman spotted his team-mate in blissful isolation.
In February, Celtic were so close to giving Bayern Munich a bloody nose in Bavaria. Here was the same team being shown up by Ayunga, a striker whose most prolific spell came at Havant and Waterlooville. This is the stuff of dreams for St Mirren. Celtic are in nightmare territory. – Guardian
