Neil Lennon comes into his own on these nights

With the first wave there was a mad rush and widespread disappointment.  The second wave washed over everyone with continuing frustration in parts.  By the third wave, panic was replaced by confidence, then, finally, came the news: “Betfred League Cup Semi-Final, tickets now on general sale.”

We went through weeks of pretence that Hibernian would sell tickets to more than just players’ friends and family for their semi-final against Celtic a week on Saturday.  Despite, again, beating Celtic at Easter Road, they know the Treble Treble champions bring their A game to Hampden, where they have won 12 consecutive semis and finals.

I get that the League and the SFA want to be respectful to smaller clubs, but these organisations have a board in order to make the right decisions for their showpiece games.  That means giving fans who want to attend every opportunity to do so, and not locking them out while acres of empty seats go unsold by the eventual lucky losers.

But tonight we can set-aside all of that, forget about Pittodrie on Sunday, and concentrate on facing Lazio in the Europa League tonight.

Celtic are the only team in the group unbeaten after two games and sit a point ahead of Cluj and Lazio at the top of the table.  A win tonight would put them on seven points and make them clear favourites to top the group.

Neil Lennon has as much of the squad available to him as I remember any Celtic manager having for an important game in years.  These nights are where the manager comes into his own, making the group’s top seed feel like Glasgow is a long way from home.