RISK AND REWARD NOT NEW CONCEPT

McCowan says 'Nancyball' no different to gameplans under O'Neill and Rodgers

- BY FRASER WILSON

THE manager has changed, the setup and style has been remodelled, and, for a worrying spell, the results altered dramatically.

But, according to Luke McCowan, nothing major has changed in the way Celtic are going about their business under boss Wilfried Nancy.

The midfielder insists the Celtic way has always been about taking risks and reaping the rewards.

While punters and pundits get in a fluster over 'Nancyball,' McCowan says the basics of what the Frenchman is asking his players to do hasn't deviated from Martin O'Neill or Brendan Rodgers.

That might raise a few eyebrows, especially given the state of the Hoops' defending, where they are still searching for a first clean sheet under the new regime and have conceded 13 goals in those six games - including two to rock bottom Livingston in Saturday's 4-2 victory in West Lothian.

But McCowan says the fundamentals of bossing the ball and constantly pressing the opposition defence while ensuring they do not conceded are exactly the same.

The former Dundee playmaker doesn't deny the second part of that still requires some reinforcing.

But, with Nancy putting his horror start of four consecutive defeats behind him with back-to-back wins over Aberdeen and Livi, there's signs his side are starting to click again.

Another three Premiership points at Motherwell tomorrow night and they will be level with tabletoppers Hearts. Then it really will start feeling more like business as usual.