NEIL LENNON is delighted with the form his players are in as they relentlessly produce result after result and that is causing stress elsewhere as others try desperately to hod onto Celtic’s coat-tails. Tonight Hibs take on the Rangers but even if Steven Gerrard’s win at Easter Road and they are currently 2-0 ahead after just 8 minutes of play, Lenny knows that three more wins against Aberdeen tomorrow at Celtic Park, away to St Mirren on Boxing Day and then in the Glasgow Derby on 29 December and his side will be at least eight points clear in the title race.
With the League Cup already safely back in the Parkhead trophy cabinet after the 1-0 win over the Rangers earlier this month, that kind of lead would make Celtic overwhelming favourites to win the Premiership for the ninth consecutive season.
“The players are good after Wednesday night. The only omission will be Jonny Hayes. He’s feeling discomfort and pain in his shoulder. He may be a doubt for tomorrow but the rest are fine and Bolingoli is in contention,” Lenny told the Media today as reported by the official Celtic site. You can also watch the Media Conference below.
“Seeing the players this morning, they looked fine and quite spritely, as you would imagine with the form they’re in. I wouldn’t imagine too many changes tomorrow.
“If you win your games it puts pressure on the opponents. We’ve had a heavy week again but we’re playing well and look fit. We know the dangers and how difficult Derek’s team can be so we’re not taking anything for granted.
“If we can win tomorrow, that sets us up nicely and we’ll have four days before the St Mirren game. That four-day period will give us a good chance to recover for the two games that will finish off this block.”
The Celtic manager is a big admirer of Derek McInnes and made the point that the Aberdeen boss has had all week to make his plans for tomorrow’s match.
“Since we played them last time we’ve been pretty consistent. The Hibs game in isolation was a shock result considering the results they’ve shown, so they’ve been pretty consistent. Derek’s a shrewd manager and I don’t hide my admiration for him.
“I think he’ll make it really difficult. He may change the way they play, he’s had a week to work on it. Cosgrove is one of the best goalscorers in the country and is having a stellar season. They could come out and have a go or be rigid,” Lenny said at today’s Media Conference which you can watch below courtesy of the Celtic You Tube channel.
Lenny opened by revealing that Jonny Hayes will miss out tomorrow as he is still feeling pain in his recently dislocated shoulder. Bolingoli though is fit again after missing out at Tynecastle on Wednesday night.
The Celtic team likely to play Aberdeen tomorrow might looks like this…
Forster
Frimpong, Ajer, Jullien, Bolingoli
Brown, McGregor
Christie, Ntcham, Forrest
Edouard
The Celtic support have certainly responded with news from earlier today that the game is now a complete sell-out.
