“When I Was In Columbus, I Wanted To Have Him” – Nancy Hails Celtic Hero
Wilfried Nancy revealed that he tried signing Benjamin Nygren for Columbus Crew this summer before the Swede left Nordsjaelland for Celtic. The attacking midfielder is Celtic’s top goalscorer in all competitions this season, adding a double to his tally this afternoon as he played a starring role in the Parkhead side’s 4-2 victory away to Livingston. And new manager Nancy is delighted to have Swedish international at his disposal. Nancy said: “When I was in Columbus, I wanted to have him. “So I know him really well. I know what he can do. I think that he has a big potential, he hasn’t reached yet his potential. “But I think in terms of a relation, connection, with players, this is a player of relation. He’s not a dribbler, but his ability is to make the runs for his teammate but also for the technique that he has. “So now he knows that he has to be stronger, he has to believe a little more in himself, but I like what I’ve seen so far, but I would challenge him.” Nygren scored his ninth and tenth goals of the season as Celtic came back from behind twice in a game which seen four goals scored in the opening ten minutes, and admitted he was made aware of the interest from his new manager after his arrival. “I think he’s a great manager” Nygren said post-match. “Myself and the whole team will keep on working hard to get better and better. “I heard of it [Columbus interest in summer]. I didn’t know it before but I heard of it when he came.” It is the second consecutive match Celtic have won under Nancy since his arrival after losing his first four, and the Frenchman was pleased with what he seen from his side today. “Good game. A difficult game to play regarding the context, regarding the pitch, regarding the opposition. I really liked the competitive spirit that we had. “We came back twice from behind, and after that we were able to score four goals, could have scored more goals obviously, but I really liked what we did first half. “Second half, I liked it also, but in different ways. Defensively we were strong, we didn’t concede, they attacked a little bit more. “But offensively I think that we could have done better with the ball, to be able to install in their half and to organise to attack. Sometimes I think that we rushed and what happened was a chaotic game.” In all six games managed by Nancy, the recognised striker has failed to score in all six. When asked if a frontman is on his January wishlist, Nancy was coy to delve into specific details about transfer strategy. “When we have a window, the window is an opportunity for each team to improve the team. “So we’ll see what we are going to do, if we are going to take players, what type of player we are going to take and so on. “But step by step we are going to get the answer.”
Dundee 1-0 Falkirk: First Win in Five For The Dee
Dundee survived a late red card scare to secure all three points in a 1-0 win over Falkirk at Dens Park. The home side made two changes to the squad that lost 1-0 to Motherwell last weekend as Ryan Astley and Ethan Hamilton made their way into the starting eleven. The visitors made three changes to the side that won at Rugby Park last week as Keelan Adams, Finn Yeats and Ethan Williams came into the eleven. There was little in the way of action in the early proceedings of the game as Brad Spencer’s early red card for a challenge on Ashley Hay was downgraded to a yellow by referee Duncan Nicolson following a VAR review. As the half was coming to an end, Falkirk midfielder Finn Yates was penalised for handball in his attempt to block the shot and Dundee were awarded the penalty. Yan Dhanda converted his penalty, sending Bairns and former Dundee ‘keeper Scott Bain the wrong way, and gave the home side the lead in a tight affair just on the brink of halftime. This was Dhanda’s second goal for the club since joining on loan from Hearts in the summer. Falkirk started the second half with more urgency and aggression, but seldom troubled Jon McCracken in the Dundee net. Just after the hour mark, Dundee manager Steven Pressley looked to maintain his side’s one goal advantage as Simon Murray and Imari Samuels were brought onto the pitch, meanwhile Falkirk manager John McGlynn pushed for an equaliser as Alfie Agyeman, Ethan Ross and Dylan Tait came off the bench. Almost 15 minutes later Bain was called into action when Drey Wright’s low left footed shot from outside the box was comfortably handled by the former Dundee keeper. A tense Dens Park crowd suffered more stress as substitute Simon Murray was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Ethan Ross, this time with the decision being upheld. With eight minutes of stoppage time, Falkirk continued their pressure as Filip Lissah’s powerful shot was saved by McCracken. The hosts would hang on the secure all three points with Falkirk ending their 2025 in defeat. Following this result, Dundee are in tenth place sitting three points above Kilmarnock in the relegation playoff spot. The two sides face each other back at Dens Park in a Tuesday night kick-off in what is sure to be a relegation dogfight. Falkirk are in eighth place, as they seek a top six finish after their promotion into the Premiership last season. They next face a home tie against Aberdeen with a chance to be right on the Dons heels should they see victory next weekend. Dundee: McCracken (7), Wright (7), Graham (8), Koumetio (7), Astley (7), Congreve (6), Hamilton (7), Jones (6), Yogane (6), Dhanda (7), Hay (7)Subs: Samuels (6), Digby (5), Murray (1), Acquah (5) Falkirk: Bain (7), Adams (6), Allan (6), Henderson (6), Lissah (6), Spencer (5), Yeats (4), Wilson (5), Miller (6), Williams (6), Graham (5)Subs: Ross (6), Tait (6), Agyeman (6), Samuel-Ogunsuyi (5), Nesbitt (5)
Livingston 2-4 Celtic: Deux in a row for Nancy as Celtic Tame Lions
Celtic cut the gap to three points on leaders Hearts after a 4-2 win over Livingston at the Home of the Set Fare Arena. Fans were treated to four goals inside the opening ten minutes, as both sides traded blows as the end-to-end action resembled something more like a basketball game rather than a football match. Cristian Montano put Livingston into the driving seat just two minutes in before Benjamin Nygren restored parity just five minutes later. Montano got his second of the game a minute after, but this was cancelled out by Celtic’s South Korean Hyun-Jun Yang straight away to complete a berserk ten minute period. Celtic stamped their authority on the contest with a stunner from Nygren, before Arne Engels converted a spot kick to give the Parkhead side some breathing room. It is Wilfried Nancy’s second win in a row as Celtic manager after losing his first four games, whilst David Martindale still searches for his second win of the season as the West Lothian side languish at the foot of the table. The fans were still making their way inside when Livingston opened the scoring inside the first two minutes. Kieran Tierney’s attempted pass across the park was intercepted by Cristian Montano, who drove forward menacingly and thundered the ball high into deputy goalkeeper Vilijami Sinisalo’s near post. Celtic responded five minutes later when Arne Engels’ delivery from a corner was met by Daizen Maeda, who knocked it down for Swede Benjamin Nygren to net his first of the game and 7th of the season. The Lions roared back less than two minutes later ti continue the frantic start to the game. Scott Pittman’s cross from the right flank fell to Montano again in acres of space inside the box, and the Colombian doubled his tally for the afternoon. Then it was Celtic’s turn for a swift reply. Maeda found space down the left and fired a ball across the floor which was failed to be cleared by Danny Wilson. A stramash ensued inside Jerome Prior’s six-yard box, with Hyun-Jun Yang getting the last touch to bring us to 2-2 only ten minutes into the contest. Celtic continued to threaten with chances coming close from Yang and Maeda, and they would get their breakthrough just on the half hour mark. Tierney found Nygren in space and Celtic’s top scorer for the season so far curled one home, clipping off the inside of the post to put the Hoops ahead for the first time this match and score his third goal in two games. And their lead would be doubled less than ten minutes later. Livingston defender Daniel Finlayson was penalised for handball and a penalty was awarded after referee Matthew MacDermid was advised for an on field review. Arne Engels stepped up, and the Belgian sent Prior in the Livi net the wrong way as he rolled the ball into the bottom right corner. Celtic appeared comfortable going into the interval with a two-goal lead, but their advantage was nearly halved with a flurry of chances in the dying minutes. Anthony Ralston got his head on a Lewis Smith cross to concede a corner, which led to deflected efforts for both Smith and Montano who was hunting a first half hat-trick, but both strikes went just over. There were cheers from the home crowd after they thought Auston Trusty had turned the ball into his own net, but the American international had only headed a Macaulay Tait cross behind for a corner. A charge led by Luke McCowan with around twenty-five minutes to play looked like the game was going to be put to bed. The visitors countered after defending a corner in a 4 vs 2. McCowan had options either side of him and went left to Yang, but the ball could have been better which gave Livingston time to regroup. And Celtic’s defensive fragility was continued to be exposed when Tait pounced on a slack pass and could not be caught as he drove forward. He lacked support however, as his pass across goal was easily cleared by Trusty. The result puts leaves Livingston with just one win all season, but it is only the fourth time in eleven defeats that they have lost by a margin of more than one goal. As for Celtic, they can level Hearts point tally on Tuesday if they are to beat Motherwell at Fir Park, with the Edinburgh side losing today’s derby at Hibs and not in action until the new year when they host today’s home side Livingston. LIVINGSTON: Prior 5, Finlayson 4, Wilson 5, McGowan 4, Montano 8 (Brenet 79’ 1), Tait 6 (Lawal 79’ 1), Pittman 6, Sylla 5, May 5 (Susoho 74’ 1), Smith 6, Yengi 5 (Bokila 46’ 4) (Muirhead 46’ 4) CELTIC: Sinisalo 5, Tierney 7, Trusty 7, Ralston 5, McCowan 7, Yang 6 (Donovan 71’ 2), Engels 6, McGregor 6, Nygren 8 (Hatate 71’ 2), Maeda 5, Kenny 5 (Bernardo 82’ 1)
Hibernian 3-2 Hearts: Hibs survive late comeback to secure victory in derby thriller
Hibernian 3-2 Hearts McGrath (3′) Campbell (45′) Bowie (48′) Shankland (75′) Devlin (89′) Hibs held off a late Hearts comeback to secure bragging rights in the Edinburgh Derby in a pulsating game of Scottish Premiership action. Hibs burst into life after two minutes. A sweeping Nicky Cadden delivery from the left was poked home by McGrath from the penalty spot, giving David Gray a dream start The strike invigorated the home side and their noisy support base. Alexander Schwolow easily gathered Kieron Bowie’s dipping strike from the edge of the box as they looked. for a second. The visitors seemed startled from their opponent’s electric start, epitomised by Oisin McEntee, who let a simple pass roll off his foot, and out for a Hibs throw. Lawrence Shankland went close to levelling proceedings after meeting Stephen Kingsley’s deep cross, but his cushioned header across goal narrowly missed Raphael Sallinger’s right post. McEntee glanced at Kingsley’s next delivery from a promising free-kick position wide as they continued to grow into the game. Hibs reestablished a foothold in the match and doubled their lead on the halftime mark. Clever play by McGrath saw him beat McEntee on the Hibs left. His left-footed cross from the byline was glanced across the goal by substitute Josh Campbell, nestling in the bottom corner. There had been pre-match chants of “we shall not be moved” by the travelling contingent, but at the moment, they certainly looked shaken. McInnes demanded a reaction from his side, making a double change for the second half. The calm presence of Beni Baningime and the wide threat of Harry Milne were introduced as they searched for a way back. But they were caught out defensively three minutes after the restart. Mulligan charged down Stuart Findlay’s clearance, allowing Bowie to poke the ball past Craig Halkett on the edge of the box, and curl a left-footed strike into Schwolow’s far post. The Scottish striker had missed a golden chance moments earlier, but his latest effort may have been the final nail in the coffin for the league leaders. Hibs were brimming with confidence and nearly added a 4th. Mulligan marauded towards the goal after pinching the ball from Stuart Findlay, but his shot sailed wide when perhaps he should have squared. Hearts had a mountain to climb, but McInnes continued to encourage his men. The Jambos rescued a point from a 3-0 deficit against Motherwell in August, offering a glimmer of hope to the travelling support. Alexandros Kyziridis had endured a quiet afternoon, but burst into life in the 67th minute. After cutting in from the left, he delivered a curling right-foot strike which Sallinger beat away. Shankland pulled one back for Hearts in the 77th minute after glancing home a Kyzridis cross. The header was 10th of the season, and may have sparked a late comeback for the visitors. Substitute Sabah Kerjota’s inswinging cross curled narrowly wide of the far post as they searched for a second goal. Cammy Devlin added Hearts’ second with two minutes to play. Sallinger could only palm Kyziridis’ strike into the path of the Australian midfielder, who rolled home from close range. They looked destined to level proceedings moments later. Kyziridis continued to pose a danger to the Hibs backline. After beating a Hibs jersey on the left, he drilled a low cross for Shankland to stab towards goal. But Sallinger was alert, making up for his earlier blunder with a point-blank save. Hibs held on to secure the three points, bouncing back from their derby defeat in October. It was a gripping contest, and the perfect way for David Gray and his side to round out 2025. Hibernian: Sallinger 6 O’Hora 7 Hanley 7 Iredale 8 Megwa 7 Barlaser 7 Mulligan 9 N Cadden 7 McGrath 9 Boyle 8 Bowie 8 Substitutes: Campbell 6 Newell 6 C Cadden 6 Klidje 6 Hearts: Schwolow 6 Steinwender 5 Halkett 5 Findlay 5 Kingsley 6 McEntee 4 Devlin 6 Magnusson 6 Kyziridis 6 Braga 5 Shankland 6 Substitutes: Milne 6 Baningime 6 Kabangu 6 Kerjota 6
