Nancy takes bow against Hearts, Maswanhise & Rohl in focus

"A new manager at the Celtic Park helm is, of course, just one of the things to look out for. Whereas Wilfried Nancy at first would have been expecting to take charge of a Celtic team needing refreshed after Brendan Rodgers' departure, the Frenchman's mindset will now need to turn to carrying on the good work of interim manager Michael O'Neill in the five weeks since. It was a 3-1 defeat by Sunday's opponents, as Hearts enjoyed a sixth straight victory and inflicted a third loss in five for Celtic, that proved to be the final straw for Rodgers."

"However, since his resignation the following day and the arrival of fellow Northern Irishman O'Neill as interim boss, there has been a steady change in fortunes. The eight-point lead Hearts established that day to inspire hopes of a genuine title challenge from Edinburgh has been surrendered - and they risk ending the weekend three points behind champions who would also still have a game in hand. O'Neill hands over a team who have lost once, away to Midtjylland in the Europa League, in eight outings since that ill-fated trip to the capital, winning their latest five."

"Derek McInnes' leaders, meanwhile, have since then won only once in six. In Hearts' defence, it should be pointed out that they have also only lost one of those. However, a failure to score in their latest two away games shows where their recent problems lie as they head to Celtic Park, where they have also not found the net in three straight defeats since their last win there, by 2-0 in December 2023. Five consecutive home wins since losing to Braga in the"

Six Premiership fixtures feature a pivotal match as Heart of Midlothian and Celtic are separated only by goal difference. Wilfried Nancy will take charge at Celtic Park but must continue progress achieved by interim manager Michael O'Neill over the past five weeks. Hearts previously beat Celtic 3-1, prompting the former manager's resignation, but Hearts have since surrendered their eight-point lead and have won only once in six. Celtic under O'Neill have lost once in eight matches and won their last five, while Hearts have struggled to score in recent away games.

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