Chris Sutton was furious with one Celtic player who “had a shocker” against Rangers as the Hoops slumped to a deflating 3-1 loss in the Old Firm derby.
Celtic shocked by Rangers resurgence in Old Firm defeat
Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy is surely teetering on the edge after Old Firm rivals Rangers rallied from behind to claim a 3-1 victory at Parkhead. Hoops supporters had already begun to turn on the Frenchman following just two wins from his opening seven matches in charge, despite his calls for patience.
It appeared he may have caught a lifeline when South Korea international Yang Hyun-jun produced a stunning solo effort in the 20th minute of a Scottish Premiership contest largely controlled by the hosts.
However, a dramatic second-half collapse followed as Rangers’ heavily criticised £8million striker Youssef Chermiti struck twice in the space of nine minutes before Mikey Moore wrapped things up with a third in the 71st minute, leaving Celtic reeling.
Hoops fans remain locked in open conflict with the club’s board, a situation that looks set to run alongside their growing desire to see former Columbus Crew boss Nancy removed, with the coach now seemingly living on borrowed time.
Danny Rohl has sparked a turnaround in Rangers’ league form since replacing Russell Martin, but this result represented a real statement from the German as his side drew level on points with second-placed Celtic.
Anger spilled over among the Celtic support as chants of “sack the board” echoed once more, and many supporters headed for the exits early, allowing just over 2,000 travelling Gers fans to savour a victory that had looked unlikely at half-time.
Whether Nancy can survive such a setback is now the burning question, and the same scrutiny applies to one player who left Sutton incensed.
Chris Sutton: Schmeichel “had a shocker” vs Rangers
As the Old Firm derby unravelled for the hosts, the last thing they needed was Kasper Schmeichel offering a poorly timed reminder of his advancing years. The 39-year-old failed to get down sharply enough to keep out Moore’s strike, a moment Sutton was quick to condemn.
The former Celtic striker pulled no punches, insisting the veteran goalkeeper “had a shocker” in his attempt to stop Moore’s effort. In a single flashpoint, one of Celtic’s most seasoned figures played a part in handing Rangers all three points in dramatic fashion.
With his contract due to expire in the summer, Schmeichel now appears set to depart with a quiet fade rather than the thunderous impact Celtic fans had grown accustomed to following his arrival in 2024.
Where the Bhoys turn next between the posts remains uncertain, but it must be a long-term solution, regardless of whether Nancy is still at the helm when the transfer window opens.
The Frenchman had defended his position in the build-up, framing the Old Firm derby as a must-win encounter. Now, his role looks more precarious than ever in Scottish football.