CELTIC manager Neil Lennon was delighted with the 96th goal from Odsonne Edouard which gave Celtic the win and opened up a TEN point gap at the top of the Premiership over nearest challengers the Rangers.
“It’s significant. We are not taking anything for granted but it’s significant,” Lenny said to Celtic TV afterwards.
“Psychologically it’s HUGE. Is there a bit less pressure going into the Rangers game? Yes. I think so. It means we don’t have to win it.
“Ideally we would love to win it and get over the line as quickly as possible. But all the onus is on the other teams around us.
“The gap between first and second now is bigger than second and third – and that’s significant for us.”
The manager was speaking to the club’s own TV channel after the match and that looked like it was heading from a frustrating stalemate until Scott Brown nicked possession back and set James Forrest away to set up Edouard to score a glorious winner.
Lenny reflected on his striker’s eventful afternoon in his post-match interview.
“He didn’t play great, but he gets the important goal,” the manager said.
“Now that’s the responsibility he has to take on board. He’s a young player, he’s come with a huge transfer fee and he’s paid another huge chunk of that off today.
“Being Celtic’s main striker is a big responsibility and he’s learning as he goes along and he’s scored important goals already this season and he’s done it again today. It’s brilliant.”
Lenny celebrated like a REAL Celtic supporter would and he loved every single second of his run down the touchline to share his elation with the away support. What was he feeling?
“Relief, emotion, happiness. There was pressure going into the game, there always is with Celtic.
“I’m not overly happy with the way we play at times and we changed our back three which I thought would have been better.
“We got a little bit desperate at times, throwing the ball in which is not like us.
“And in the end it took a real turn of pace to the attack to get the goal and they should learn from that now and hopefully that will register with them going forward.”
Lenny had spoken ahead of the game about another Celtic striker, and one he knows very well, Leigh Griffiths.
The club’s Number 9 has taken some time away from the game to sort out some issues in his personal life and he’ll be keen to get back into training and to start his journey back to the Celtic first team. And that could happen before the season is over.
“I met him on Monday. I’m optimistic about seeing him back before the end of the season,” Lenny told the Sunday media on Friday.
“He looked okay and in reasonable condition. He’s got a bit of work to do to catch up with the rest.
“That’s what we’re hoping will happen over the coming weeks. I don’t want to talk about private things, but he’s obviously itching to get back.
“It’ll take a bit of time, but, hopefully, we’ll see him before the end of the season.
“If you can get him fit and firing, you’ve got a top-quality centre-forward.
“It’s down to him now. Part of his recovery is that he does it step-by-step, but he’s doing it, so, hopefully, we can get him back doing what he’s good at.”
