The objective of anyone from the outset of their first day at the office is simply not to do anything which adversely affects their reputation.
For Wilfried Nancy, this was the equivalent of turning up late then spilling the boss’ morning coffee.
For 43 minutes, the Frenchman’s new-look side captured the imagination of the home support. All that was lacking to get the new regime off to a flier was a goal.
From the instant Claudio Braga scored against the run of play shortly before half-time, however, it became the stuff of nightmares.
Notwithstanding the fact this was Nancy’s first match in charge, Celtic’s response to the trouble they were facing was wholly inadequate.
Truthfully, they went to pieces in the second half, shanking balls out of play, running about aimlessly and undercooking passes. The run of five successive wins Martin O’Neill presided over after the team lost at Tynecastle came to a shuddering halt.
Hearts were always extending their lead at the top of the table the moment Oisin McEntee thumped home a header from a corner just after the hour mark.
For all that Kieran Tierney claimed the first goal of the Nancy era in stoppage time, it was scant consolation.
Celtic were deservedly beaten. For all their early domination, they didn’t fashion enough clear-cut chances and looked confused and panic stricken once Hearts took the first of theirs.
Captured by TV cameras, the image of Paul Tisdale, Celtic’s head of football operations, seemingly asleep in the stand in the second half felt in keeping with the efforts of the players in that truly dismal period.
Now three points off the pace and only six ahead of Rangers, Celtic are going to have to wake up fast if this troubling campaign is yet to be rescued.
For the second time this season, Hearts did a number on them. Derek McInnes’ men actually started poorly, but they were unrecognisable the minute Braga found the back of the net.
They showed immense character in the second half, controlling the match and winning their individual battles all over the pitch.
Just as their win at Tynecastle in late October was not definitive, nor will this triumph decide the outcome of the title race.
It does, however, significantly increase the chances of the Tynecastle side still having a say when it reaches its conclusion.
Nancy had alighted outside the ground for the first time at 1.30pm, with drizzle in the air but with the reception warm.
While he had insisted that he wouldn’t try to change too much too soon, he went with the 3-4-3 system he championed in Ohio.
This saw Callum McGregor and Arne Engels sit behind Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren in a box, with the width provided by Yang Hyun-jun and Seb Tounekti.
Under leaden skies, with the rain tumbling down under the glare of the floodlights, it felt more like a European night than a weekend domestic engagement.
A show of support for Nancy echoed through the arena shortly before he emerged from the tunnel, decked out in black aside from his green and white trainers, to take the acclaim.
Celtic started high in energy and aggression, their one-touch play enthusing the home support.
Still sporting a bandage on his head from a head knock sustained against Dundee, Daizen Maeda slipped as he tried to bury the first chance of the afternoon. He would not wait long for another one.
McGregor’s high ball was killed by Tounekti on his chest. His lay-off picked out the darting Japanese. The home support rose in anticipation of the opener only for Maeda’s shot to trickle just wide.
Hearts struggled to build any cohesive moves. Whenever a man in a maroon jersey looked up, they had two in green and white for company.
Celtic’s pressing was on point. Nancy spent much of the first half signalling his appreciation of this effort.
Their industry fashioned a number of half chances. Alexander Schwolow was able to gather Tounekti’s effort thanks to a deflection. Nygren earned a corner when his strike from the same spot also caught an opponent.
Although Hearts looked nervous in possession, they defended their box well.
There was an early contrast in emotions in the respective dug-outs. Jacket hood up to shield him from the elements, McInnes turned away in frustration when a promising break ended as Braga opted to turn back rather than go at his opponent. He simply glared when Cammy Devlin sent a cross-field pass straight out of play.
Initially, there was much to please Nancy. Apart from Nygren’s final ball. Twice the Swede couldn’t find the right pace to connect with Maeda as he darted off the shoulder of the last defender.
It was a captivating watch despite the lack of goals. As Hearts belatedly enjoyed a spell of pressure, Yang and Harry Milne traded bookings.
You suspect McInnes would have been content to get up the tunnel level. Striking first, two minutes before the whistle, was a considerable bonus.
It had as much do with Celtic’s defensive sloppiness as Braga’s alertness. Engels was way too slow in coming out as Hearts pushed.
Lawrence Shankland showed poise on the right and crossed. Liam Scales half cleared with an outstretched boot which allowed Devlin to return the ball.
Braga barged into Auston Trusty to keep the situation alive. Milne’s shot was blocked by McGregor and fell kindly for the Portuguese. As Celtic’s defence appealed for offside, he drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
Ill-deserved or not, Hearts retreated to the dressing room ahead. What an infusion of confidence the closing 120 seconds must have given them.
Celtic had played well enough without doing the most essential task. The theme continued when Engels skied a shot after Maeda’s cut-back.
There was much more to Hearts after the break. They were wiser to Celtic’s attempts to play through them and much more fluent in possession.
Their second arrived when Kasper Schmeichel turned Shankland’s strike away for a corner after an incisive move.
Milne’s deep out-swinger was measured. It caught Celtic’s defence flat-footed. McEntee’s header had accuracy and pace, and Schmeichel had little chance of saving it.
Having started with such purpose, Celtic looked like a team fast running out of ideas.
Hatate struck the bar before Tierney halved the deficit deep into stoppage time with a low left-foot shot through a forest of legs.
Late scare aside, the visitors had grown in stature. The 50-50 balls they were losing in the opening exchanges were meat and drink in the second period.
What a way to answer those who believed their title challenge was waning.
Read more
- Can Celtic’s thrilling performance silence critics with Hatate and Nygren proving they’re a force to be reckoned with?
- Can Martin O’Neill’s triumphant return fuel Celtic’s chase to catch Hearts after a thumping victory?
- How did Celtic’s astonishing victory over Feyenoord signal a new European era under soon-to-arrive manager Nancy?
- How did Celtic allow a comeback by Aberdeen despite leading by two goals in their latest gripping showdown?
- How did Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn become the hero in their explosive last-minute win, safeguarding their unbeaten domestic record?
