LENNY/KENNEDY 100 POSTECOGLOU 101

GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS claimed Celtic’s 101st goal of the season when he headed in his dramatic late winner in the 3-2 Premiership victory over Dundee at Parkhead last weekend.

It not only completed the Greek striker’s first hat-trick for the club, but it shot Ange Postecoglou’s side one goal better than the total achieved under Neil Lennon and John Kennedy last season.

The Hoops were ton-up Bhoys in a wretched campaign as the Irishman departed the club with 10 games remaining, eight in the league and two in the Scottish Cup.

Kennedy stepped into the dug-out as the term limped to a tame conclusion and he witnessed two scoreless stalemates – against Dundee United at Tannadice on March 7, when the bid for a historic tenth successive championship officially came to an end, and against Hibs at Easter Road as the curtain came down on the season to forget, the first trophyless crusade in 11 years.

GOAL No.101…Giorgos Giakoumakis hits the deck as the ball flies high into Dundee keeper Ian Lawlor’s net for the third and winning strike.

STRIP STRIP HOORAY…Giorgos Giakmouakis celebrates his late points-clincher against the Dens Park outfit.

Lennon saw the team notch 83 goals in 41 games – 64 in 30 league matches, 19 in 10 Euro ties and none in the ill-fated defence of the League Cup which faltered at the first hurdle with a dreadful 2-0 loss to Ross County in Glasgow on November 29.

Caretaker gaffer Kennedy witnessed the team collect 17 strikes – 14 in eight league games and three in the Scottish Cup against League One Falkirk before the 2-0 exit at Ibrox.

Karamoko Dembele’s first goal for the club – a low angled drive five minutes from time in the 4-0 win over St Johnstone in Glasgow on May 12 – was the team’s 100th and final counter of the season.

Debut Bhoy Liel Abada notched the first competitive goal in the Postecoglou reign with the opener in the 1-1 Champions League qualifying draw with FC Midtjylland at Parkhead on July 20.

The £3.5million arrival from Israel in the summer has hit 14 so far in a prolific and impressive first season at the club.

START OF SOMETHING GOOD…Liel Abada sends a message to the Celtic fans after the first goal of the season against FC Midtjylland in July.

PYRAMID OF PLEASURE…Kyogo Furuhashi celebartes one of his double in the Premier Sports League Cup Final victory in December.

Top scorer is Kyogo Furuahashi, signed for £4.6million from J-League Vissel Kobe in July, who has hit 16, despite missing all 11 games in 2022 with the hamstring problem which was also keep him sidelined for the midday start against Hibs at Easter Road today.

Coincidentally, his last strike for the Hoops came in the 2-1 Premier Sports League Cup Final victory over the Edinburgh club on December 19 when his second-half double salvo delivered the first domestic silverware of the season to Celtic.

Postecoglou was watched his side hit 60 in 27 Premiership games, nine in four League Cup-ties, six in the Scottish Cup and 26 in 14 Euro outings.

Now for Goal No 102 and counting!

* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Hibs v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.