Pat Bonner makes surprising claim about Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic after Livingston win

Pat Bonner has offered an unexpected but glowing assessment of Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic after their dramatic victory over Livingston, drawing a comparison that few supporters might have anticipated.

Celtic emerged from Almondvale with a 4–2 win, but the manner of the performance was anything but straightforward. The Hoops found themselves trailing twice inside the opening ten minutes, leaving fans bracing themselves for a potentially uncomfortable afternoon. However, an explosive attacking response turned the game on its head before half-time. Benjamin Nygren struck twice, while Hyunjun Yang and Arne Engels also found the net in a breathless first-half display that ultimately secured all three points for the visitors.

While the match was nerve-racking for sections of the Celtic support, former Hoops goalkeeper Pat Bonner was left deeply impressed by what he saw from Nancy’s side. Rather than focusing solely on the defensive issues exposed early on, Bonner zeroed in on the team’s attacking intent and entertainment value. In doing so, he reached back into Celtic history to make a comparison that surprised many listening.

Bonner likened Nancy’s Celtic to the side managed by Tommy Burns during the 1996/97 season — a team remembered fondly for its flair, attacking ambition and willingness to take risks, even if that approach came with defensive vulnerabilities.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland at half-time, Bonner admitted he had been searching for a historical parallel as he watched the chaos unfold at Almondvale. He explained that the closest comparison he could find was Burns’ Celtic, particularly the team that featured the famous attacking quartet of Pierre van Hooijdonk, Paulo Di Canio, Jorge Cadete and Andy Thom.

According to Bonner, that Burns side was packed with attacking talent, with several players focused almost entirely on creating and scoring goals rather than contributing defensively. The result was often thrilling football, but it also left the back line exposed. Bonner suggested Nancy’s Celtic showed similar traits: exciting, bold and highly watchable, yet always susceptible to conceding goals.

He highlighted how, under Burns, Celtic were sometimes left with just four defenders trying to cope while the attacking players expressed themselves further up the pitch. It made for compelling viewing but also meant the team could be punished, particularly in big games. Bonner felt the same balance — or imbalance — was evident in Nancy’s current side, especially during the early stages against Livingston.

For many Celtic fans, the mention of Tommy Burns inevitably stirs feelings of nostalgia. Burns’ team from the mid-1990s is remembered not only for its attacking football but also for how close it came to delivering major success. In the 1996/97 campaign, Celtic pushed Rangers hard in the title race but ultimately finished five points adrift.

That season, Burns’ Celtic scored 78 league goals while conceding 32, underlining both their potency going forward and their defensive shortcomings. They recorded 23 wins, six draws and seven defeats, but crucially lost all four Old Firm derbies — a factor that proved decisive in the title race, as Rangers finished with slightly superior results overall.

Despite falling short in the league, Burns had already etched his name into Celtic folklore the previous season by ending a six-year trophy drought. The Scottish Cup triumph over Dunfermline in 1995 remains a cherished moment, cementing Burns’ legacy as a manager who restored pride and attacking identity to the club.

By invoking Burns’ Celtic, Bonner was not offering criticism so much as praise for the entertainment Nancy’s team provides. The comparison suggests a side willing to take risks, prioritise attacking football and thrill supporters — even if that approach occasionally comes at a cost. For a fanbase that values style as much as success, it was a compliment that carried real weight, even if it also served as a reminder of the fine balance between excitement and control.