Celtic finally record a Scottish Premiership win under Wilfried Nancy, beating 10-man Aberdeen 3-1 after late goals from Kieran Tierney and James Forrest. The result ends a run of four straight defeats under the new manager and brings some relief, even though Celtic remain six points behind leaders Hearts, who defeat Rangers 2-1 and still have a game more played.
Nancy becomes the first Celtic manager to lose the opening four matches in charge before earning a victory. That background adds extra weight to this result, which arrives after a tense contest at Celtic Park. Aberdeen defend deep for long spells but cannot hold out once Tierney and Forrest strike late, turning a narrow game into a more comfortable scoreline.
The performance statistics
underline Celtic’s dominance against Aberdeen in this Scottish Premiership meeting. Celtic register 31 attempts at goal, generate 4.53 expected goals and strike the frame of the goal four times. Aberdeen, reduced to 10 players, absorb pressure for much of the match but are eventually overrun as Celtic attack repeatedly in search of Nancy’s first league success with the club.
Despite closing the gap to Hearts, Nancy plays down league-table talk at this stage. Celtic trail by six points but have a game in hand over Hearts after the Edinburgh side overcome Rangers 2-1 on Sunday. Nancy suggests that progress matters more than positions right now, with Celtic still adjusting to new ideas and seeking consistency after a difficult start.
After the match, Wilfried Nancy speaks to BBC Sportsound and praises the squad’s response during this stressful spell. "The players did really, really well," Nancy tells the broadcaster, stressing that the group have stayed committed despite early setbacks and heavy scrutiny surrounding the poor sequence of results.
Have a great night, Celts #CELABE | #CelticFCpic.twitter.com/PVFJdhgfrfCeltic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 21, 2025
"We hit the post four times and I've never seen that in my life. We deserved more. I can see an improvement every game. I'm happy for the players because they deserved it. Many teams could've been down with all the chances we had but we kept going wave after wave after wave and I'm really proud of that. Good for the players just to validate what they did because I know that it was not easy for them. They need a bit of time. I'm happy for the players. I'm happy for the fans, I'm happy for the club, I'm happy for the board. We chase anybody. The idea is to compete with ourselves. After that, the standings, we'll see. "
Nancy’s comments highlight a clear message to Celtic supporters and players. The focus remains on performance levels, self-competition and gradual progress rather than immediate league position. The Aberdeen victory, built on pressure, persistence and late goals, provides Celtic with a platform to stabilise their Scottish Premiership campaign and aim for more consistent results.
