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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ewan Murray at Hampden Park

St Mirren stun Celtic to win Scottish League Cup as Nancy’s nightmare goes on

St Mirren celebrate with the Scottish League Cup trophy after defeating Celtic at Hampden Park.
St Mirren celebrate with the Scottish League Cup trophy after defeating Celtic at Hampden Park. Photograph: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Blame and plenty of it is now flying around at Celtic. This defeat, a third for Wilfried Nancy in his three games 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 highly unlikely. On one of the finest days in St Mirren’s 148-year history they deservedly claimed the League Cup for only the second time. Yet it was impossible to ignore the desperate nature of Celtic’s performance. They 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.

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