Blessed Celtic relief for Wilfried Nancy with first win as keep the board taunts shot down by late spree

After four consecutive defeats to begin his tenure in wretched fashion, Celtic go into Christmas with a little more cheer. A win against the Dons was non-negotiable, especially as Premiership leaders Hearts strengthened their own title credentials by beating Rangers 2-1 earlier in the day. The gap between the two teams remains six points, with second-placed Celtic holding a game in hand.

This result will quell any chance of a sacking before Santa Claus is due to arrive. There were genuine fears that if Celtic did not prevail here, the board would be forced to act. No such action required, even if it got very hairy for Nancy against ten-man Aberdeen. The Frenchman now has a full week on the training pitch ahead of Saturday's trip to basement club Livingston to further coach his team.

Nancy stuck with his 3-4-3 formation - a brave move given what had gone on beforehand. But the 48-year-old is wedded to his principles. His way or the highway. On this occasion, his way worked. Just.

Celtic were assisted by an Aberdeen team bearing gifts. Three days earlier, they were in the Czech Republic losing soundly to Sparta Prague in the Conference League. Jimmy Thelin's men had some fleeting moments before shooting themselves in the foot just before the interval.

Already trailing to Benjamin Nygren's opener, goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov's pass to Dylan Lobban was pounced upon by Daizen Maeda. The teenager pulled the Japanese forward down as he bore towards goal and referee David Dickinson drew the red card. An already jaded team was now a man inferior.

Celtic tossed away the same goal advantage in the second half at Dundee United on Wednesday. A sense of deja-vu and doom engulfed Celtic Park when miss after miss was followed by Kenan Bilalovic's 75th-minute leveller. To Celtic's credit, they rallied and scored not once but twice in a barnstorming finish through two men who have lived through better times at Parkhead in Kieran Tierney and James Forrest.

Celtic striking issues surface once more

Aside from his error, Mitov made some excellent saves, most notably a sprawling dive to stop a Callum McGregor howitzer. They were in vain, however. Aberdeen did not contribute enough and suffered their first league defeat in eight outings. They remain in sixth place.

Nancy's Celtic system has correctly been picked apart by all manner of onlookers but in all three of his domestic matches prior to Aberdeen's visit, there have been periods of games where Celtic have attacked with pace and purpose. They sustained that level for longer here, albeit helped by Lobban's dismissal. But the lack of a No 9 with genuine Celtic credentials continues to harm them.

Poor Johnny Kenny missed a sitter at Tannadice during the week and he fluffed his lines twice in the first half, once from six yards out and another when rolling an effort wide from bang in front of goal. Daizen Maeda - another Tayside sinner - also missed from close range when Mitov and Adil Aouchiche got in each other's way from a corner.

That frustration was temporarily alleviated on 39 minutes. Maeda did what Maeda does best, streaking down the left flank to latch on to a through ball and squaring for Nygren to slide the ball home. The Swedish midfielder remains Celtic's top scorer in the league.

Celtic’s spell of shooty-in

Aberdeen did draw one good save from Kasper Schmeichel when he palmed behind a Topi Keskinen effort on 42 minutes. And just before Lobban's unfortunate moment, Marko Lazetic's close range effort from a corner was blocked. They were impaired by the red card.

The beginning of the second half was largely a game of shooty-in. It started on 47 minutes when Mitov clawed away an Auston Trusty header. The ball was shuttled back to McGregor and the Bulgarian made one of the saves of the season to divert the ball over the bar.

Celtic did not relent. A minute later, Nygren's cross-shot hit the inside of the post as Aberdeen clung on. The hosts were dominating the ball but could not finish their chances. Arne Engels somehow headed straight off the woodwork from six yards out. Amid the misses, Celtic's fans continued their chants of dissent towards the board.

Kenny was replaced by Shin Yamada on 70 minutes as Nancy searched for a killer blow. Nygren appeared most likely to get it though and he pulled a shot just wide. Another replacement in Forrest was denied at close range from Mitov.

A dramatic ending at Celtic Park

All of that resistance paid off for Aberdeen on 75 minutes. The goal was made from the Dons bench. Kjartan Mar Kjartansson dispossessed Maeda on the halfway line. strode forward and set Bilalovic through on goal. The winger scored last week to spark a revival against Kilmarnock and showed composure to slot past Schmeichel, who got a foot to the strike but could not keep it out. "Keep the board" teased the delirious Dons fans.

Did Celtic have enough on the pitch to score again? The next big chance fell to the visitors. Bilalovic was sent through on goal again but the angle was too narrow and his low shot was blocked by a skidding Anthony Ralston.

Finally, another breakthrough for Celtic came on 85 minutes. Colby Donovan's teasing cross went all the way along the six-yard box to Tierney at the back post. He planted his header home. Relief all around Celtic Park - most notably in the dugout. The tin lid was put on affairs in the second minute of stoppage time when McGregor cut the ball back from Forrest to tap home.

It's the 17th season in a row the veteran has scored for Celtic. Thirteen of those campaigns have ended with a league winner's medal. No such guarantees right now. The only certainty is that Nancy has bought some goodwill and time.