Celtic now find themselves firmly in a mid-season crisis. Three games for Wilfried Nancy as the manager have resulted in the same number of defeats. The paucity of Celtic’s display in this League Cup final was so striking and so alarming that it is already fair to ask questions about Nancy’s suitability for this role. Celtic look a mess.
How St Mirren capitalised. This will rank among the finest days in the Paisley club’s history. St Mirren’s second-half showing in particular was excellent. They were fully deserving winners. Celtic had no reply to St Mirren’s tactical discipline.
Two-goal Jonah Ayunga was the St Mirren hero. To illustrate how far Celtic have fallen, Ayunga arrived in Scottish football from Morecambe. Here he was, dismantling a woeful Celtic backline.
St Mirren’s afternoon had started in the best way possible. Just 96 seconds had been played when Marcus Fraser headed home a Keanu Baccus corner. This marked the third goal in as many games Celtic had lost from a corner.
Nancy’s men did rally. Reo Hatate met a deep Kieran Tierney cross to volley past Shamal George. Celtic teams of greater substance would have improved from there. This side regressed.
