Celtic’s defeat to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final sparked an angry reaction from sections of the support, with fans gathering outside Celtic Park on Sunday night as frustration spilled over after another damaging result.

The 3–1 loss at Hampden was Celtic’s third defeat in seven days and the third in a row under new head coach Wilfried Nancy.

More importantly, it was a missed chance to secure early silverware at a time when the club is already facing heavy scrutiny, on and off the pitch. The fallout did not end at Hampden, with emotions carrying back to Glasgow as supporters returned from the national stadium.

Videos circulating on social media showed groups of fans assembling outside Parkhead as buses arrived back in the east end.

Chants aimed at the club’s hierarchy could be heard, highlighting the level of dissatisfaction that has been growing for months. While anger at the performance was clear, the focus of the protest was largely directed at the board rather than the players or coaching staff.

The mood around the club has been tense for some time, with concerns over recruitment, communication and leadership dominating supporter debate well before the cup final.

Many fans believe the summer transfer window failed to properly strengthen the squad, particularly in areas that have since been repeatedly exposed. Those frustrations have only grown during a run of high-profile defeats, ending with Sunday’s disappointment at Hampden.

Wilfried Nancy’s appointment was meant to mark a fresh start, but the timing of his arrival has been widely questioned.

Taking charge during a packed schedule, Nancy has seen his side lose to Hearts, Roma and St Mirren in quick succession. While it would be unfair to judge a manager on just three games, the nature of those defeats has added to the sense of uncertainty surrounding the club.

For some supporters, anger has also been intensified by the decision not to keep interim manager Martin O’Neill in charge for the cup final. O’Neill had steadied results in the short term and appeared to reconnect with a divided fanbase.

The call to make a swift change before such a major fixture is now viewed by many as a gamble that did not pay off.

Tension between supporters and the board has been building for years, with the end of the summer transfer window becoming the breaking point for some.

That context has shaped the reaction to recent results, with the Hampden defeat acting as a trigger rather than the sole cause of the unrest.

The scenes outside Celtic Park on Sunday night were the clearest indication yet of how fragile that relationship has become.

There is little time for the club to pause. Celtic travel to face Dundee United away in the Premiership on Wednesday, a match that now carries added pressure.

A strong response could help calm the situation, while another setback would only increase scrutiny across the board.

The January transfer window is also approaching quickly.

Many supporters feel decisive action in the market is vital, not just to fix weaknesses in the squad but to show ambition and restore belief. Without visible progress on and off the pitch, concerns about the club’s direction are likely to grow.

Soccer Football – Scottish League Cup Final – St Mirren v Celtic – Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – December 14, 2025 Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell in the stands before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

For now, the scenes at Parkhead shows the standards and expectations that come with running Celtic. Results, performances and decisions are judged harshly, and patience is limited.

How the club reacts in the days ahead may prove just as important as what unfolded at Hampden.