2025-12-17: Dundee Utd 2-1 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026

Trivia

KO: 20:00; Wednesday, Sky Sports, League Match 16
Nancy’s fourth game in charge and four defeats in a row. Shambles.
Wilfried Nancy confirmed that Kelechi Iheanacho is set for another spell on the sidelines after suffering a fresh hamstring injury during Celtic’s Premier Sports Cup Final defeat to St Mirren on Sunday.
Non-executive Chairman Peter Lawwell has decided to step down from the Board of Celtic plc with effect from December 31, 2025. Current Celtic non-executive director Brian Wilson will take up the role of interim Chairman from that point, until a permanent appointment is made.
Former Celtic assistant John Kennedy agreed to follow Brendan Rodgers to Saudi club Al-Qadsiah.
Reports:
Hayato Inamura reportedly set for exit in January.
Polish midfielder Mateusz Bogusz, at Mexican side Cruz Azul, and CFR Cluj’s Romania striker Louis Munteanu top the Celtic shortlist for the January window.
interested in Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who will be out of contract at the end of the season, while Inter Milan are considering the 25-year-old Frenchman as a back-up option.
Palestine head coach Ihab Abu Jazar has told 26-year-old Columbus Crew striker Wessam Abou Ali to accept an offer to join Celtic in January and expects him to reject Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia and Al Ahly in Egypt.
Celtic, Club Brugge and Espanyol scouted 22-year-old midfielder Issa Doumbia in action for Venezia against Monza in Serie B on Saturday, while Southampton remain interested after having a £5.25m offer for the Italy Under-21 cap rejected this summer.
Daizen Maeda has now informed Celtic he is willing to remain in Glasgow until after next summer’s World Cup.
Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale are interested in taking 23-year-old left-back Hayato Inamura, who joined Celtic this summer on a four-year deal but has played just once, back to his Japanese homeland.
Cluj president Iuliu Muresan has admitted the Romanian club are hoping next month to sell 23-year-old forward Louis Munteanu, with whom Celtic were linked this summer, to help resolve financial problems.

Summary

Joebloggscity

A shambles and disaster that seemed to not even shock the bulk of the support. The first half should have seen Celtic lead by a handful of goals but a one nil lead was something at least. Yet a poor second half saw two goals conceded to make it four defeats in a row and still no victories for new manager Nancy.

Even the announced retiral of the chairman in these turbulent times wasn’t going to be good enough to hide this disaster.

Nancy was now in the red with the support bit helped by a bizarre social media post. Many already calling for his head. These calls can only really grow.

The atmosphere at Celtic is now caustic and turbulent.

Teams

Celtic

01, K. Schmeichel
63, K. Tierney, subbed for L. Scales at 75 mins
06, A. Trusty
56, A. Ralston
14, L. McCowan
28, Paulo Bernardo,Yellow Card at 43 mins, subbed for A. Engels at 65 mins
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain
13, Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for B. Nygren at 86 mins
38, D. Maeda
24, J. Kenny, subbed for S. Yamada at 65 mins
41, R. Hatate, subbed for J. Forrest at 65 mins

Subs:

51, C. Donovan
27, A. Engels
49, J. Forrest
47, D. Murray
08, B. Nygren
05, L. Scales
04, J. Simpson-Pusey
12, V. Sinisalo
18, S. Yamada

Goals:

D. Maeda (13′)

Assists:

J. Kenny (13′)

Dundee Utd

25, D. Richards,90’+4, Yellow Card at 90 mins plus 4
06, R. Graham (c), Captain
23, K. Keresztes
03, B. Esselink, subbed for V. Ševelj at 46 mins
11, W. Ferry
21, L. Stephenson, Yellow Card at 86 mins
14, C. Sibbald
02, R. Strain
17, A. Fatah
09, Z. Sapsford, subbed for N. Möller at 80 mins
36, M. Watters, subbed for I. Dolček at 70 mins

Subs:

31, R. Adams
44, C. Beattie
37, S. Cleall-Harding
19, I. Dolček
10, J. Eskesen
77, N. Möller
34, O. Stirton
07, K. Trapanovski
05, V. Ševelj

Goals:

K. Keresztes (58′)
Z. Sapsford (61′)

Assists:

V. Ševelj (58′)
A. Fatah (61′)

Referee: John Beaton
Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee 1: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee 2: Scott Robert Anderson
Fourth Official: Colin Steven
Assistant VAR Official: Gary Hilland
Att:

Articles

Match Report (see below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

Match Links

Stats

Overall possession

Dundee United 26.3% Celtic 73.7%

Shots

Dundee United 16 Celtic 17

Shots on target

Dundee United 7 Celtic 2

Total touches inside the opposition box

Dundee United 30 Celtic 28

Goalkeeper saves

Dundee United 1 Celtic 5

Aerial duels won

Dundee United 21 Celtic 27

Fouls committed

Dundee United 10 Celtic 3

Corners

Dundee United 7 Celtic 6

In-depth match stats

Attack

Shots

Dundee United 16 Celtic 17

Shots on target

Dundee United 7 Celtic 2

Shots off target

Dundee United 7 Celtic 11

Attempts out of box

Dundee United 3 Celtic 7

Hit woodwork

Dundee United 0 Celtic 1

Total offsides

Dundee United 3 Celtic 3

Distribution

Total passes

Dundee United 210 Celtic 601

Pass accuracy %

Dundee United 60 Celtic 86.2

Backward passes

Dundee United 23 Celtic 89

Forward passes

Dundee United 114 Celtic 196

Total long balls

Dundee United 63 Celtic 67

Successful final third passes

Dundee United 35 Celtic 134

Total crosses

Dundee United 16 Celtic 28

Defence

Total tackles

Dundee United 16 Celtic 17

Won tackle %

Dundee United 62.5 Celtic 64.7

Fouls committed

Dundee United 10 Celtic 3

Total yellow cards

Dundee United 2 Celtic 1

Total clearances

Dundee United 52 Celtic 54

Pre Match Facts

Dundee United are winless in their last 23 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D5 L18) since a 2-1 league win in December 2014 under Jackie McNamara.

Celtic have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five league matches against Dundee United; only from December 2001 to August 2003 during Martin O’Neill’s first spell in charge have the Hoops ever avoided conceding in six successive league meetings with the Tangerines.

Dundee United are winless in their last nine Scottish Premiership games played on a Wednesday (D2 L7) since beating Ross County 3-0 in December 2022.

Celtic have won both of their last two away league games, but haven’t won more in a row on the road since December 2024 (10).

Against Hearts, Wilfried Nancy became the first Celtic manager to lose his first home league game in charge of the club since Wim Jansen in August 1997 (1-2 v Dunfermline Athletic). A defeat here would make Nancy only the second manager to lose both of his first two league games in charge of Celtic overall, after Jansen again in 1997.

Articles

Celts miss out at Tannadice

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c9d94gwj95qt

By Matthew Campbell

17 Dec 2025, 10:03 pm

Scottish Premiership

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Tannadice Park, Dundee

DUNDEE UTD…2

(Keresztes 58, Sapsford 61)

CELTIC…1

(Maeda 13)

Celtic were defeated 2-1 by Dundee United at Tannadice this evening, with the home side producing two second-half goals to give themselves three points after Celtic had taken the lead in the first 45 minutes.

Celtic started quickly and created a big chance early on when Daizen Maeda rushed on to a ball on the left wing and sent it across the box for Yang, but, at full stretch, the winger was unable to direct the ball towards goal.

Johnny Kenny was the next Celtic man to find himself with an opportunity when, just minutes later, after some brilliant link-up play between Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate in the middle of the pitch, the Sligo man received the ball and burst in to the box. However, a strong save from the home side’s keeper, David Richards prevented the goal.

Wilfried Nancy’s men had the hosts on the back foot throughout the opening stages, and it felt like a matter of time before Celtic got the opening goal, which came with just over 10 minutes played.

A well-weighted pass from Johnny Kenny set up Daizen Maeda and, after some quick footwork from the Japanese Celt, he blasted a shot across the goalkeeper and in to the far corner to give the Hoops a 1-0 lead.

The Celts were in full control of proceedings throughout the first half, and seemed to be getting in behind the hosts’ defence at will. Their lead should have been doubled 20 minutes later when Maeda sent another dangerous ball across the box, this time for Johnny Kenny, whose effort from a few yards out drifted just wide of the post.

Dundee United carved out a chance just before the break when their goalkeeper sent a long ball forward which was picked up by Max Watters. The home side’s forward was able to get a shot away on goal but was unable to generate any power behind it, and Kasper Schmeichel made the save with no fuss.

26%

Possession

74%

Shots

Shots On Target

Corners

Fouls

Cards

Dundee United looked to respond to their 1-0 deficit at the start of the second half and within minutes of the restart, Craig Sibbald found himself with a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box, however his effort rose high over the bar.

Kasper Schmeichel was then called in to action, making a good reaction save after a quick turn and shot from Sapsford as the home side continued to try and put pressure on the Celtic defence.

Dundee United managed to find an equaliser just before the hour mark when a cross ball deep in to Celtic’s box wasn’t cleared, giving Vicko Ševelj the chance to set up Krisztian Keresztes, who sent the ball in to the far corner beyond Schmeichel.

The home side then took the lead a few minutes later when Zachary Sapsford produced a brilliant finish from the edge of the box, curling the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to Jim Goodwin’s men.

Wilfried Nancy made a triple change after the home side took the lead, bringing Shin Yamada, Arne Engels and James Forrest on for Johnny Kenny, Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate.

Yamada found himself with a good chance not long after his introduction to the match when Luke McCowan picked him out with a nice ball, but his volleyed effort didn’t trouble the home side’s keeper.

The Japanese striker then found himself with another opportunity from the edge of the box. This time he opted to go with the outside of the foot and was unlucky to see his effort drift wide of the target.

Maeda came close to pulling Celtic level late in the match when he got his head to a cross from James Forrest. His headed effort ricocheted off the post and then off the back of a Dundee United defender, but somehow did not end up in the back of the net, to the shock of everyone inside Tannadice, and the Celts ran out of time.

Dundee Utd: Richards, Esselink (Sevelj 45′), Keresztes, Graham, Strain, Sibbald, Stephenson, Ferry, Sapsford (Möller 80′), Fatah, Watters (Dolcek 70′)

Subs: Sevelj, Trapanovski, Eskesen, Dolcek, Adams, Stirton, Cleall-Harding, Beattie, Möller

Celtic: Schmeichel, Ralston, Trusty, Tierney (Scales 75′), Hyunjun Yang (Nygren 86′), McGregor, Paulo Bernardo (Engels 65′), McCowan, Hatate (Forrest 65′), Kenny (Yamada 65′), Maeda

Subs: Simpson-Pusey, Scales, Nygren, Sinisalo, Yamada, Engels, Murray, Forrest, Donovan

From <https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/december/17/celts-miss-out-at-tannadice/>

BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ckgmm87drm9t#Report

At a glance

Celtic remain six points behind Hearts after fourth defeat in four games for Wilfried Nancy

Goals from Krisztian Keresztes and Zac Sapsford overturn early lead earned by Daizen Maeda strike

Dundee Utd end seven-game run without win to beat Celtic for first time since 2014

ByClive Lindsay

BBC Sport Scotland

Dundee United piled more pressure on Wilfried Nancy as they came from behind to condemn the Frenchman to a fourth straight defeat since becoming Celtic manager on another day of turmoil for the reigning Scottish champions.

Celtic looked to have responded positively to Sunday’s League Cup final defeat thanks to Daizen Maeda’s early goal, but second-half strikes from Krisztian Keresztes and Zac Sapsford turned the game in the struggling hosts’ favour.

As eighth-placed United ended a seven-game run without a victory and an 11-year, 24-match wait for a win over the Glasgow side, Nancy becomes the first Celtic manager to have lost four games in a row since Jock Stein 47 years ago.

They remain six points behind Premiership leaders Hearts – albeit with a game in hand – on a day when Peter Lawwell announced he would be standing down as chairman citing “abuse and threats” from elements of their own their fans.

Lawwell cites ‘abuse and threats’ as he quits as Celtic chairman

Published

1 day ago

Keep up to date with Dundee United latest

Read latest Celtic news on BBC Sport

For all the talk of whether Nancy would retain his favoured 3-4-3 formation despite its early malfunctioning, it was Maeda being back to his best in his left-wing berth that ignited Celtic immediately from kick-off.

The speedy Japan forward had already left lumbering centre-back Bert Esselink in his wake several times before latching on to Johnny Kenny’s flick behind the defence to fire into the far corner after 13 unfortunate minutes for United.

Kenny should have made it two soon after when he delayed his shot too long when clean through.

Celtic were threatening to blow United away, but Max Watters should have done better than to prod wide at the other end when the striker was found free in front of goal by Keresztes’ misplaced shot.

Kenny missed from in front of goal following a low Maeda cross and United made Celtic pay as they played down the slope after the break.

Sapsford had already forced a good save from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel when substitute Vicko Sevelj set up Keresztes and the centre-half calmy placed a shot into the far corner.

As United piled on the pressure, striker Sapsford shaped an outrageous finish past Schmeichel as Celtic struggled to clear.

Maeda could have rescued at least a point late on but somehow headed against a post from all of six yards with the goal gaping on another dismal night for Celtic and their new manager.

‘In three months, it’s gone belly-up at Celtic, which is incredible’

Scottish Football Podcast

18/12/25

Listen on Sounds

Graphic

Analysis: Game and pressure turns on Nancy

After becoming the first Celtic manager to lose his first two games in charge before defeat by St Mirren at Hampden, Nancy aleady had a lot of work to do to win over the Glasgow club’s expectant fanbase.

Chief executive Michael Nicholson insisted earlier in the day that the board’s support for the former Columbus Crew head coach is “absolutely solid” despite a “disappointing” start, but how much longer can their patience continue?

The Frenchman made four changes – two of them enforced – but stuck to his guns with a shape that ensured Celtic were playing for high stakes at both ends of the pitch.

Luke McCowan in a left midfield role and Johnny Kenny, starting up front in place of the injured Kelechi Iheanacho, combined to unleash Maeda time and again.

However, with Liam Scales rested – and full-backs Anthony Ralston and Kieran Tierney flanking Auston Trusty – Celtic continue to look vulnerable at the back.

Whether it was United manager Jim Goodwin replacing the toiling Esselink with Sevelj at half time, or the fact they were shooting down the slope, the game turned.

Goodwin had recognised his own “need to start winning games” and lamented his side’s tendency to lose late goals.

However, this time they held firm to ease pressure on himself and heap it on his opposite number, who has again been reminded that the Premiership is a world away from Major League Soccer.

What they said

00:48

Media caption,

‘That’s a good one for the fans’ – Goodwin

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: “At half-time, we thought we were going to get opportunites. We had two or three half chances in the first half.

“It has been a long time since we beat Celtic in front of our own supporters and that’s one for them.

“We are not getting carried away. We are not happy with our league position, but that gives us a lot of confidence.”

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy: “We lost the game in three minutes – two set-pieces that we conceded. Maybe the second one was offside before the corner.

“I think we did a good job – I think we had a good performance with all the opportunities we had in the first half.

“If we score the two or three tap ins we had, it would have been a different score.”

…