Celtic player ratings vs Rangers as second half collapse puts Wilfried Nancy on brink after derby nightmare

Celtic lost 3-1 against Rangers in the Premiership after a chaotic second half, as pressure piles on head coach Wilfried Nancy.

Auston Trusty and Johnny Kenny passed up big chances early on to put the hosts ahead. Yang scored a brilliant solo goal soon after but Youssef Chermiti levelled after half-time. Chermiti put the Light Blues ahead shortly after his first effort and Mikey Moore pounced on a dire Celtic showing after the break with a low effort to end the game as a contest. The Hoops sit second in the table but level on points with Rangers beneath them, with league leaders Hearts still to play Livingston on Saturday.

Nancy suffered a fifth defeat in seven midweek when his Celtic side were outclassed, outfought and outperformed by Motherwell at Fir Park. That sparked a seven-minute defence of his style, tactics and tenure so far in his pre-match presser as he pleaded for time in the Celtic hotseat, having only arrived last month.

The one thing about Glasgow is that what he seeks is often in short supply if wins don’t come in hand with it, and Nancy has found them allusive so far. Rangers were in a better place heading into this after Danny Rohl’s arrival as head coach and had the chance to go level with Celtic on points, which would rub more salt in the wounds for the already under fire boss.

Trusty had a chance to relieve some of it early on and truly set Celtic Park ablaze after a fast home start, missing the target with a free header from close range, off an Arne Engels corner. If that was a glaring miss, Kenny’s effort entered sitter territory, great build-up play allowing the striker to have a go from close range but his effort was straight at Jack Butland. Yang made sure Celtic’s good start came with reward, a brilliant solo run in and out of several Rangers players before his shot proved too powerful for Butland to keep out the net.

It was all Celtic. Kenny then Yang having efforts saved as a second appeared an inevitability, but the couple of Rangers adventures forward showed the hosts had some frailties in defence, Djeidi Gassama almost lobbing Kasper Schmeichel at the other end. That proved costly as they failed to switch on from a throw-in, allowing Nico Raskin in behind for Chermiti to prod home.

Daizen Maeda was denied an instant leveller at the other end by Butland, then Yang was stopped by the keeper. Groundhog day has become a Celtic theme and again after good attacking play, a terrible throw-in routine allowed Chermiti to march in on goal and fire his second of the afternoon into the bottom corner. They’d been the better team and dominated the ball but it meant nothing as they were left stunned, again, with the killer blow landed by Tottenham loanee Moore.

Again at sixes and sevens at the back, the winger ripped through a hole in defence and fire beyond Schmeichel, who didn’t cover himself in glory. Next up for Celtic is a home league clash with Dundee United but the noise over Nancy’s future will hit fever-pitch levels after this derby collapse, and some will ask whether or not he’ll reach the next clash as Hoops gaffer. Here’s how we rated the Celtic players at Parkhead.

Kasper Schmeichel - 4/10

Was looking to bounce back from a poor performance at Motherwell. Good save from Gassama effort and not a lot could be done at first two goals, but has to do better at Moore’s effort.

Yang - 7/10

Still playing in an unnatural wing-back role but showed all of his attacking quality with early blast. Looked better in defence and was a constant menace for Jayden Meghoma, but lost Chermiti at the goal in a physical mismatch. Attacking ability made him most dangerous player on the park but defensive qualities aren’t on same level.

Anthony Ralston - 4/10

Started at right-sided centre-back again. Comfortable in first half but not alert enough to see Chermiti heading into a contest with Yang, with the ill-fated throw-in routine sparking a second Rangers goal. All good work undone within 15 minutes.

Auston Trusty - 4/10

Anchored the back three and should have scored early on. Put on the deck far too easily by Raskin at the leveller and doesn’t engage Chermiti at the next goal. A brutal afternoon.

Kieran Tierney- 5/10

In at centre-back after returning to full-back midweek. Doesn’t get out in build-up to the leveller, tried to start play from defence.

Luke McCowan - 5/10

Midfielder restored to a wing-back role. Not alert at the throw-in en route to Chermiti’s effort and Gassama got a bit of joy. Subbed first.

Callum McGregor - 6/10

Part of a midfield two. Did well to help control game in first half but game unravelled in the second half and part of the build-up to Chermiti’s second.

Arne Engels - 5/10

Brilliant corner should have been nodded in. Some nice runs in behind but got lost in the chaos of the second half.

Benjamin Nygren - 6/10

Part of some good early build-up play and runs off the ball were causing Rangers confusion before second half drop-off. Assist for the Yang goal.

Daizen Maeda - 5/10

Looked to stretch Rangers with pace. Lacked a bit of composure in the final third but had his foes second-guessing themselves.

Johnny Kenny - 5/10

Back in the XI up top and needed that early goal amid a tough stretch in front of goal. To his credit, his movement caused Rangers all sorts of bother and Butland was doing his utmost to deny him. Quality on the ball still elusive in stages. Subbed.

Julian Araujo - 3/10

January arrival from Bournemouth thrust in for debut at right-wing-back. Not ideal circumstances to make an appearance.

Shin Yamada - N/A

A late arrival into proceedings with no real impact.

Reo Hatate -

Same as Yamada. At 3-1 down it was an impossible task.

Given literally a couple of minutes.

Another put on with two minutes of normal time to go.