Wilfried Nancy's precarious position as Celtic manager has been plunged into further crisis after a dramatic second-half collapse saw Rangers emerge victorious from a fiery Old Firm derby at Celtic Park. Youssef Chermiti's brace and a Mikey Moore strike sealed a 3-1 comeback win for the visitors, leaving the home support in open revolt and Nancy clinging to his job.
Celtic's False Dawn Crumbles
The match began with palpable tension in the stands, but Celtic's first-half performance offered their anxious fans genuine hope. The hosts dominated proceedings, with Johnny Kenny causing early problems. The breakthrough came in stunning fashion from Yang Hyun-jun, who danced past two feeble challenges from Thelo Aasgaard and Nico Raskin before unleashing a magnificent shot into the roof of Jack Butland's net.
Rangers were ragged, surviving several scares, and were fortunate to reach the interval only a goal behind. It was a display of aggression and intent that suggested Nancy's side had turned a corner. However, the fragility that has plagued their season was about to be exposed in brutal fashion.
Rangers' Ruthless Second-Half Resurgence
The visitors emerged after the break with renewed purpose and levelled within five minutes. Raskin atoned for his earlier error, shrugging off Auston Trusty to set up Youssef Chermiti for a simple close-range finish. The equaliser shifted the momentum irrevocably.
Celtic's response to this adversity, a recurring weakness under Nancy, was pitiful. Just minutes later, Chermiti capitalised on a botched throw-in, stealing possession from Anthony Ralston before racing through to beat Kasper Schmeichel. The former Everton striker, once ridiculed after his arrival at Ibrox, had turned the game on its head.
Schmeichel Error Seals Celtic's Fate
The capitulation was complete when Mikey Moore's speculative effort found its way past Schmeichel, whose slow dive compounded a miserable afternoon. The goal triggered a mass exodus from the home stands, accompanied by loud chants directed at the Celtic board.
The result leaves Rangers level on points with their historic rivals in the Scottish Premiership, a remarkable turnaround given their own earlier struggles under Russell Martin. For Celtic, this sixth defeat in eight matches underlines a staggering period of decline. With main shareholder Dermot Desmond absent, the club's directors now face a critical decision on Nancy's future, as the team's on-field mess fuels a full-blown crisis off it.
