Relief swept through Celtic Park last Sunday as Wilfried Nancy secured his first victory after four challenging matches. This win came at a critical moment for the Frenchman, who had begun his tenure on a rocky path, marking the worst start for a manager in the club’s storied history.

Finally breaking the cycle of defeats, Nancy’s team managed a 3-1 triumph over Aberdeen, a much-needed respite after their disappointing streak. With this victory, Nancy immediately turned his attention to narrowing the gap with Hearts, who maintained their lead atop the Premiership table after defeating Rangers, keeping a solid six-point cushion.

The early losses had dealt Celtic a hard blow, one not easily softened by a single win, especially against an Aberdeen side weakened to ten men after a taxing Europa League clash in Prague the previous Thursday. However, Celtic nearly stumbled again, allowing Aberdeen to draw level at 1-1 before two late goals salvaged the match for Nancy’s squad.

While Celtic’s overall performance was satisfactory, it was far from flawless. They generated a respectable number of opportunities but failed to capitalize on most of them, indicating room for improvement as they strive to regain their footing in the Premiership race.

Beating Aberdeen has bought Nancy time but his position will be under scrutiny if Celtic falter over the Christmas period

Nancy gets his message across as Celtic substitutes prepare to come on against Aberdeen

Celtic so nearly made a mess of it, allowing the visitors to come back and equalise at 1-1, before two late goals dragged Nancy’s team over the line.

The Parkhead side’s performance was okay. Nothing more than that. They created a decent amount of chances, but squandered the vast majority of them.

There was a recurrence of certain themes which are becoming all too common under the new manager. Even against ten men, there was still a frailty to Celtic, especially the way they were exposed on the counter-attack.

As was the case in previous matches since his arrival a couple of weeks ago, Nancy’s team still looked desperately vulnerable at times.

For all that the former Columbus Crew boss could be pleased with his first win, the result did little to dispel the notion that he is a man who is still living on a game-by-game basis.

He is now entering a run of three games over the festive period that could well decide whether or not he has a long-term future at Celtic.

It starts with a trip to Livingston on Saturday. For all that David Martindale’s side are bottom of the league, it’s a venue that has caused the champions plenty of problems over the years.

For a boss who is seeking to introduce a new playing style and formation, the tight confines of Livi’s stadium and plastic pitch could easily become a graveyard.

Celtic then face another away game next Tuesday, against a Motherwell team who have been an absolute revelation this season under Jens Berthel Askou.

Motherwell will pose a stiff test to Celtic when Nancy takes his team to Fir Park on December 30

On their day, the Steelmen are a brilliant watch and play the most attractive football in the league. Flying high in third place, they could cause Celtic all manner of problems.

Then comes the litmus test for Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic just after New Year when they face Danny Rohl’s Rangers at Parkhead.

Rohl had his first taste of the Old Firm derby in last month’s League Cup semi-finals. He had only been in the door just over a week at that point when caretaker Martin O’Neill’s men won 3-1 in extra time.

This will be Nancy’s first crack at the fixture. It is not difficult to envisage a scenario where a couple of sticky results over these next three games could send him right back to square one.

Given the volume of chances that Celtic are missing under his stewardship, you do wonder what difference a quality, proven goalscorer might make to them.

Nancy addressed this in his media conference yesterday, stressing that Daizen Maeda should be retained at all costs in the January window.

However, Maeda alone is not enough. Last season now looks like an anomaly, when he scored 33 goals in all competitions and was named Player of the Year.

Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy is keen to keep hold of star striker Daizen Maeda

The Japanese international has scored seven goals in 26 games so far this season. He scored a good goal against Dundee United last week, but also missed a sitter as Celtic lost 2-1.

He is back to the same erratic player who first arrived at Parkhead in 2022. Having expressed a desire to leave the club last summer, there are still questions about his commitment.

Nancy insisted yesterday that Maeda is happy and will be a key part of the club’s plans moving forward into the second half of the season.

Give the player’s unreliability, though, and the injuries suffered by Kelechi Iheanacho, Celtic need a new striker. If they can get one, Nancy might just have half a chance.

These next three games will be pivotal in determining whether or not Celtic should actually sanction a January rebuild to suit his new system.

If he were to suffer another couple of shaky results, there would be a plausible argument that the club should not throw money at a manager who patently is not up to the job.

There might be some who feel that is slightly harsh given he’s only five minutes in the door. But that’s the reality of the situation he’s been thrown into by Celtic.

He will naturally want time to build something, but the manner in which the club botched the timing of his appointment means that he is unlikely to be afforded much patience.

Fans were chanting for Nancy to be sacked after his fourth consecutive defeat at Tannadice

In the defeat at Tannadice the previous week, fans were already calling for him to be sacked, while chanting O’Neill’s name.

It was mortifying. All the more so when Nancy then spoke afterwards and claimed he knew everything about Scottish football … because he almost signed for Carlisle once upon a time as a player.

The win over Aberdeen was only a momentary lifting of the gloom. A brief interlude in this brutal baptism of fire he is experiencing in Glasgow. There is still a long road ahead if the 48-year-old is to turn this around and prove that he can cut it as a Celtic manager.

The Frenchman spoke on Tuesday about how he is not accustomed to playing football over the festive period. It’s all new to him. If things don’t go well over these next three games, it won’t just be turkey on the menu. Nancy’s goose could well be cooked.