“We Lost Control After Equalising” – Nancy Under Fire as St Mirren Stun Celtic

Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic reign plunged deeper into crisis as St. Mirren ripped the Premier Sports Cup from the holders with a ruthless 3-1 victory at Hampden Park. What began as a frantic final ended with the Paisley club celebrating a historic triumph and a new Celtic manager facing immediate scrutiny.

This mattered because Celtic was supposed to be stabilizing under Nancy. Instead, they were exposed. A first trophy opportunity slipped away, pressure intensified, and uncomfortable questions resurfaced about direction, authority, and readiness.

A final that turned fast

St Mirren wasted no time asserting themselves. Inside 90 seconds, former Celtic defender Marcus Fraser rose to power home a header from Keanu Baccus’ corner, punishing hesitant marking and stunning the green-and-white support. Celtic responded with urgency and quality, leveling midway through the first half when Reo Hatate ghosted in behind the defense to volley Kieran Tierney’s cross into the far corner.

At that point, momentum appeared to swing. Hampden expected Celtic to push on. Instead, the opposite happened.

Celtic’s intensity dropped, their structure loosened, and St. Mirren sensed vulnerability. Jonah Ayunga, quiet in the opening exchanges, became the defining figure of the afternoon.

Ayunga seizes the moment

The decisive moment arrived in the 64th minute. Alex Gogic produced a perfectly weighted first-time cross that bypassed Celtic’s back line. Ayunga timed his run impeccably, nodding the ball over the advancing Kasper Schmeichel to restore St. Mirren’s lead.

Twelve minutes later, Hampden was silenced. A long ball from Miguel Freckleton exposed Celtic’s high line, Declan John surged forward, and Ayunga finished first time after the cut-back. Two chances. Two goals. A cup final performance that will live long in Paisley.

The brace doubled Ayunga’s goal tally for the season and secured St. Mirren’s first League Cup since 2013, their fifth major trophy overall.

A worrying pattern for Celtic

For Nancy, the implications were stark. This defeat followed losses to Hearts and Roma, making him the first Celtic manager to lose his opening two matches, now three games without a win in all competitions. More concerning than the results was the manner.

Celtic struggled defensively in transition, invited pressure with loose passing, and lacked composure once the game tilted against them. Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half hamstring injury disrupted attacking plans, but it did not explain the drop in control or the growing disconnect between midfield and defense.

Nancy retained his preferred system but adjusted personnel, deploying Anthony Ralston in a back three and pushing Tierney into a wing-back role. The changes offered width early on, yet structural problems re-emerged as St. Mirren targeted space behind Celtic’s wide players.

Anti-board chants from sections of the Celtic support late on underlined the wider unrest. This was not just about one final. It was about trajectory.

Credit where it is due

While Celtic unravelled, St Mirren thrived. Stephen Robinson once again demonstrated his ability to organize, motivate, and outthink opponents on the big stage. Losing top scorer Mikael Mandron to illness could have been destabilizing. Instead, Dan Nlundulu led the line intelligently, pressed effectively, and played a key role in the opening goal.

Defensively, goalkeeper Shamal George was assured, producing crucial saves from Iheanacho, Colby Donovan, and Johnny Kenny. St. Mirren balanced aggression with discipline and never looked overawed by the occasion.

Three consecutive top-six finishes suggested progress. This trophy confirmed it.

What happens next?

For Celtic, this was a missed opportunity and a warning. Cup finals often define early managerial narratives, and this one deepened doubts rather than easing them. How quickly can Nancy impose control? Can Celtic tighten defensively without sacrificing attacking threat? And how patient will the board and supporters be if results do not improve?

For St. Mirren, the questions are far more celebratory. Can this success be a springboard rather than a peak? Can Robinson turn silverware into sustained domestic momentum?

One club left Hampden with answers and a trophy. The other left with pressure, noise, and a season already demanding a response.