Forget points penalty, we’re well worth lead, says Neil Lennon

Neil Lennon: pleased with his side's performance. Picture: SNS

Published on Thursday 23 February 2012 02:58

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon insists his team’s relentless surge clear at the top of the SPL is worthy of the highest praise, regardless of the 10-point deduction imposed on outgoing champions Rangers.

The Ibrox club’s slump into administration effectively ended this season’s title race as a contest but Celtic maintained their own impressive momentum last night with a 2-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Dunfermline at Parkhead, a result which moved them a massive 20 points ahead of their Old Firm rivals.

It was Celtic’s 13th consecutive victory in all competitions, a run last achieved by Martin O’Neill’s side in 2003-04. It was also Celtic’s 16th straight SPL win and their 19th successive domestic victory.

Lennon expressed his pride in his players and his satisfaction that they have heeded his advice to retain their focus in seeking to extend their current sequence of results.

“I just gave them a wee reminder before the game,” said Lennon. “I just said ‘don’t spoil it, don’t let it get away from you’. A run like this maybe only happens once in your career. They could easily have switched off tonight and gone home thinking they had chucked it away.

“I played in Celtic teams which won the league by big margins, but I can’t remember ever being 20 points clear in February. Obviously the 10-point deduction for Rangers has played a part but we would be 10 points clear in any other world and that’s fantastic at this stage of the season in its own right.”

Goals from Charlie Mulgrew and substitute James Forrest in each half secured the three points for Celtic on a night when they were otherwise sloppy in front of goal, most notably the normally prolific front pairing of Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes.

“I thought we made it hard for ourselves,” reflected Lennon. “But the only criticism I can have of my team tonight is that they were wasteful in front of goal. Apart from that, I’m proud of them and the way they played. They kept the winning run going and have opened up a huge gap in the championship. I couldn’t have asked any more of them. It took a wonder goal from Charlie Mulgrew to get us going and when a team sits in like Dunfermline did tonight, it’s important to have players like him who can hit the ball like that from long range.

“After we went in front, we were always in control but when it’s still just 1-0, the other team has a little bit of encouragement.

“The amount of times we got to the byeline and missed the final pass or missed simple opportunities is incredible. We were so comfortable in possession and were never under any great pressure. There can be a lack of clinical finishing in those circumstances and the two strikers can have an off day now and then. I was still pleased with the all round play of both Gary and Anthony.”

Dunfermline remain bottom of the SPL on goal difference from Hibs, who also have a game in hand, but manager Jim McIntyre continues to believe his team will avoid dropping straight back down into the First Division.

“We didn’t deserve anything from the game tonight, I’m not going to try and say anything different,” said McIntyre.

“But what I see from these players gives me great hope and I’ve got every confidence that we can stay in this league.

“We set up defensively tonight because Celtic are a free flowing side firing on all cylinders at the moment.

“We wanted to try and hit them on the counter attack but we didn’t show enough quality when we did manage to find ourselves in those situations.”

View the original article here