Hearts Hand Celtic's New Boss Nancy Nightmare Start with 2-1 Win

Celtic Vs Hearts

Hearts dealt Celtic's new manager Wilfried Nancy a blow with a 2-1 win, putting them three points clear in the Scottish Premiership title fight. Hearts' Claudio Braga and Oisin McEntee scored the goals.

Celtic's defeat marks their second home league loss in two years, handing Hearts a crucial three points in the title race...

Wilfried Nancy's tenure as Celtic manager got off to a rocky start as Hearts secured a 2-1 win at Celtic Park, putting them three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Goals from Claudio Braga and Oisin McEntee gave Hearts the victory, despite Celtic's late push, with Kieran Tierney scoring a consolation goal in stoppage time.

Hearts' win marks a significant turnaround, as they had been struggling with a four-game winless streak before this match. Celtic, on the other hand, had been on a roll under interim manager Martin O'Neill, closing an eight-point gap to be level on points with Hearts. However, Nancy's debut didn't quite live up to expectations, with Hearts exploiting Celtic's defensive vulnerabilities to take the lead.

Kilmarnock thwarted Nancy's title hopes, spoiling their chances of becoming the first team outside Celtic and Rangers to win the Scottish title in 40 years. Celtic dominated the early stages, but Daizen Maeda's missed chances proved costly, allowing Kilmarnock to secure a crucial win.

Celtic's bright start didn't translate to goals, and Kilmarnock capitalized on their mistakes, securing a vital victory.

The hosts struggled with Nancy's switch to a 3-4-3 system, crumbling after Hearts took an unexpected lead just before halftime. The Celtic defense hesitated, thinking Claudio Braga was offside, and he capitalized, scoring past Kasper Schmeichel.

Nancy's struggles continued as Oisin McEntee scored a powerful second goal from a corner, just after the hour mark.

Celtic pushed hard for a point, with Arne Engels' header saved by Alexander Schwolow and Reo Hatate's rebound shot hitting the crossbar. Kieran Tierney scored a late consolation, but it wasn't enough, ending Celtic's two-year unbeaten home league run.

FT.#CELHEA | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/igdG96tCu5

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 7, 2025

Celtic's defeat marks their second home league loss in two years, handing Hearts a crucial three points in the title race.

Hearts are now three points clear at the top of the league, with Rangers only six points behind Celtic after their 3-0 win at Kilmarnock on Saturday. The defeat has sparked controversy among Celtic fans, with many questioning the timing of Wilfried Nancy's appointment as manager, given the team's crucial run of fixtures. The Hoops will face Roma in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by the League Cup final against St. Mirren next weekend.