Scottish Premier League: Do we have a real title race?

New Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy has not been investigated much for his title hopes.

Not really much oversight. More realization that the former Columbus Crew’s coach’s priority has been to actually win games since taking over from interim manager Martin O’Neill.

Four defeats in a row – having been the first Celtic manager to lose his first two in charge – and a large section of the Glasgow club’s fans are already calling for him to be sacked.

Rodgers resigned the day after the October defeat to Tynecastle, but veteran former Celtic boss O’Neill has steadied the ship with just one defeat – in the Europa League – in his eight appearances.

Whether or not the Celtic hierarchy regrets not keeping O’Neill in charge longer, they appear to be digging in, with chief executive Michael Nicholson saying before Wednesday’s loss to Dundee United that the board were “absolutely solid” behind the Frenchman while reports that they considered sacking him afterwards were dismissed.

O’Neill hinted that Nancy did not spend much time mining his insider knowledge when the managerial baton was passed and the Frenchman appears determined to plow his own furrow, despite much criticism of his decision to abandon the four men’s defense of his predecessors in favor of his favorite three.

In fact, he insisted that he would continue experimenting with his players at Celtic and try to find a winning formula.

Asked if he would make adjustments, Nancy replied: “I understand the question, but if you watch all the matches we play, I am adjusting something all the time.

“The idea is not to stay static – we are adding improvements all the time. I have to change certain things to see the players, but also see how I can tweak a few players, how I can mix the players together.”

Nancy admitted that the criticism was “hard to take personally” but realized that “we are judged on the results.”

Having presided over Celtic’s longest losing streak since 1978, adding a fifth successive defeat for the first time since the 1952-53 season will pile more pressure on the French coach.