NEIL LENNON yesterday compared Hibs’ 2-1 victory at Ibrox to Celtic win over Barcelona in 2012. Lenny managed Celtic on that unforgettable night and like yesterday had to field a team with a large number of first picks missing from his side due to injuries.
Winning at Ibrox for the Hibs boss is starting to become a lovely habit, his 3-2 win at the start of the season had the locals issuing statements. Yesterday a long range effort from John McGinn and a penalty (!) from Jamie McLaren ensured the points went back to Leith with Lenny.
A shout out to Willie Collum who gave the penalty after Tavinier had pushed Scott Allen at the corner of the box near the touchline – think Callum McGregor at Motherwell at the end of November in the 1-1 draw. Collum is at least consistent on this aspect of the game and both incidents were clear penalties – despite moans from Motherwell then and Sevco Rangers yesterday.
“It’s up there in my managerial career with the Barcelona result. Just under the circumstances, the injuries that we had.
“It’s our fifth game in 13 days, I’ve lost Hanlon, I’ve lost McGregor, I’ve lost Whittaker, I’ve lost Gray.
“So I’ve got Lewis Stevenson, my left back, playing left centre-back, I’ve got John McGinn, a midfielder, playing left wing back, I’ve got Martin Boyle, a winger, playing right wing-back. So there were a lot of square pegs in round holes.
“But the new boys had another excellent game, Scott Allan was fantastic and we really played some good football, especially in the first half.
WATCH: Neil Lennon says today’s win was up there with beating Barcelona. Goals later on @SkySportsNews @HibsOfficial @RangersFC pic.twitter.com/sRmcaKncqz
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 3, 2018
“I couldn’t be more proud of my team. To go there when Rangers have their tails up and play so strongly is fantastic.”
Lennon also praised Jamie MacLaren, who successfully converted the penalty. The 24-year-old scored his first goal for the club since signing on loan from Bundesliga 2 outfit Darmstadt.
“MacLaren’s movement was excellent and his link-up play with Kamberi was very good, considering they haven’t played together before.
“He’s smart, he’s intelligent, and he took the responsibility of the penalty as well, no-one was getting the ball off him.
“He’s a little bit undercooked still in terms of football, but he can be delighted with his contribution. The players are off until Thursday now and it’s a well-deserved rest. They’ve covered themselves in glory this week.”
Hibs are now out of action until the 17th of February when they host Aberdeen at Easter Road. That doesn’t mean you won’t be hearing much from Neil Lennon.
In fact you will be hearing from his this evening on the CQN Podcast – A Celtic State of Mind. The Podcast has had a brilliant start to 2018. Old board Director Tom Grant was the first guest of the year and what he had to say was very revealing – if you haven’t heard that one it is worth going back for a listen.
Tommy Sheridan was the next guest and he was followed by the original Holy Goalie and Lisbon Lion John Fallon – both were brilliant guests.
The current podcast (listen below) features former Celtic striker Frank McGarvey who gives a great insight into the club in the 1980s and he talks about just how special a player Charlie Nicholas was in his first spell at Parkhead and why he never fulfilled his true potential.
Frank also talks about his move to Celtic, how he always directed his headers against Rangers down into the ground and some of his special goals for the club including that cup final winner.
And don’t forget that tonight’s CQN guest is Neil Lennon – the new Podcast will be posted on here around 7-30-8pm so watch out for that.
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