James McFadden reacts to officials not being able to check Hearts’ second goal against Celtic

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There has been a lot of noise around Wilfried Nancy’s first game in charge.

Yes, this is Celtic, but the hysteria needs to be dialled down a little because Nancy has just walked through the doors.

There are positives to take for Nancy, as well as the fact that Celtic were perhaps unlucky with how Hearts’ second goal came about.

The main spotlight was on Hearts’ opener from Claudio Braga, and whether it was offside in the build-up, which wasn’t the case, but the same can’t be said for Oisin McEntee’s header from a corner.

• READ MORE: Celtic told it’s ‘not fair’ on Ange Postecoglou after what is being said about Wilfried Nancy

James McFadden on the lead-up to Hearts’ second goal against Celtic

The build-up to Hearts’ second goal was discussed on Sky Sports Football (07/12/25), and how the corner leading to the goal shouldn’t have been awarded.

A through ball was played to Lawrence Shankland, who was offside, Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saved his shot, and the ball went out for a corner.

James McFadden explained how VAR can’t check those kinds of situations, but had Shankland scored, then ‘it would be checked’, and the goal would have been ‘ruled out.’

Eilidh Barbour: “There is a potential question of an offside in the build-up that leads to the corner. But ultimately, it can’t be checked.”

McFadden: “That’s the way football is. If Lawrence Shankland goes and puts that into the back of the net, then it would be checked. If he is offside, it would be ruled out.

“But you can’t check because it leads to a corner.”

McFadden cools down the noise around Wilfried Nancy after Celtic’s defeat to Hearts

Martin O’Neill did a stellar job, but Nancy needed to come in sooner rather than later, even if supporters wanted their legendary coach to continue his run.

Yes, it’s not ideal that Nancy lost his first match, but McFadden pointed out that had O’Neill still been in the dugout and lost to Hearts, then questions would have been raised as to why the new permanent manager hasn’t been appointed yet.

“Had Martin O’Neill been in charge, it was still a game Celtic could have lost,” said McFadden. “If Celtic had lost the game, they would have said, ‘Why are you waiting to get a manager in, who is waiting to come in?’

“The timing is always going to be difficult. The biggest issue was always going to be, it’s clear Wilfried Nancy wants to play a back three, and it was clear he was going to put that in place as soon as he could.

“I am not saying there is any issue with making changes. They are top players; they should be able to deal with that.

“But I think the balance of the team. Having a left footer at right centre-back. He wants to play this expansive way. He wants his side centre-backs to step into the game. I don’t think Trusty stepped into the game enough. That’s not a slight on Trusty, I think he would have done so on the left-hand side.”