NEIL LENNON will attempt to do something this afternoon that proved outwith the capabilities of Brendan Rodgers – win a Premiership game at Easter Road.
The former Hoops manager had three goes at picking up a victory against Hibs on their own territory and suffered a hat-trick of failure with two defeats and a draw.
Last season, following the Edinburgh side’s promotion back to the top flight, the champions were leading 2-0 with a double strike from Scott Sinclair when the home side battled back to achieve an improbable 2-2 draw. It could have been worse, too, with Mikael Lustig kicking an effort off the line in the fading moments.
In the second visit, the Hoops lost 2-1 and it didn’t get any better in December last year when Lennon saw his former club pick up three vital points in a 2-0 success with the Parkhead men a goal down in the first minute as they produced one of their worst performances in years.
HAPPY EASTER ROAD…Scott Sinclair celebrates one of his two Celtic goals v Hibs in December 2017.
Now Lennon, who left the Leith outfit at the turn of the year, will return to his old stomping ground today and is hoping to stage an action replay of February’s Scottish Cup quarter-final tie at the same venues where goals from James Forrest and Scott Brown saw the holders safely through to the next stage.
* CELTIC won the previous league game against the Edinburgh team 2-0 at Parkhead with Ryan Christie and Oliver Burke on target. In October last year, they also enjoyed a 4-2 home success with Odsonne Edouard (2), Oliver Ntcham and Tom Rogic on target.
* HIBS have only lost one of their last six home league games against Celtic while winning three and drawing two. They have never won three consecutive home matches against them in the Premiership.
* CELTIC have conceded just four goals across their last 14 league games while winning 11, drawing two and losing one. The last side to score more than once against the Hoops in the Premiership Aberdeen on Boxing Day when a Scott Sinclair hat-trick helped the visitors to a 4-3 triumph at Pittodrie.
FRENCH FANCY…Odsonne Edouard thunders in one of his two goals in the 4-2 win over Hibs in October 2018.
* HIBS are unbeaten in their last eight league games, winning six and drawing two. It’s their longest run without a loss since 12 matches without a loss between January and May 2018, winning eight and drawing four.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and the best action images from Hibs v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
