MX23RW : Friday, March 22 13:05:53
Mar 17, 2019 at 12.30pm UK at ​Dens Park (Dundee)
Dundee
0-1
Celtic
FT(HT: 0-0)
Edouard (90')

Lennon delighted as Celtic show character to seal late win

Lennon delighted as Celtic show character to seal late win
© Reuters
Odsonne Edouard scored the only goal deep into injury time at Dens Park.

Neil Lennon revealed he urged Celtic to keep going all the way to their last-gasp 1-0 win at Dundee which took them 10 points clear of Rangers at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

The visitors stepped up the pressure after a goalless first half but it looked like the second-bottom Taysiders would survive six minutes of added time until French striker Odsonne Edouard converted a James Forrest cut-back for a dramatic winner.

Interim boss Lennon said: "I said at half-time that we will wait until the 49th minute of the second half if we need and they were true to their word, they followed instructions out.

"You are not going to roll over teams, team who are fighting for their livelihoods and Dundee fought like Trojans, like warriors and made it very difficult for us.

"I am not going to analyse the game right now.

"The object of today was to win the game, we did that; go 10 points clear, we've done that, and now we can assess things in the next two weeks (during the international break)."

Lennon, who took over until the end of the season in February when Brendan Rodgers left for Leicester, put his own exuberant goal celebrations down to "relief, emotions, importance".

He said: "It is not easy coming in at this time, the way things are, following in (Rodgers') shoes and taking on a style of play you are not used to, a different environment at the training ground and different players.

"So I had to do it bit by bit and what you saw there was the relief."

The next of Celtic's eight remaining league games after the international break is against Rangers at Parkhead and Lennon insists the pressure on his side was eased by the late win.

The Northern Irishman said:  "It is significant. Not taking anything for granted but it is significant and psychologically it is huge.

"It means we don't have to win it. Ideally we would love to and get over the line as quickly as possible but all the onus is on the other teams around us.

"The gap between first and second is bigger than between second and third which is again significant for us."

For all their efforts Dundee remain one point ahead of basement side St Mirren.

Boss Jim McIntyre was surprised at the length of time added on by referee Bobby Madden, believing it would be "probably four maximum" but insisted they also had themselves to blame.

He said: "It was obviously extreme disappointing to lose so late on.

"I thought we deserved a point for the effort we put into the game but ultimately we've been done in the last minute or two of the six that were added on.

"Having said that, that's not the reason we lost. We had a great opportunity on the counter-attack with two minutes to go and we've got to be better.

"That's the reason we are where we are.

"We've been getting into such good areas in each of our last few games and haven't punished teams.

"We need to be better in the final third, simple as that.

"We didn't do what Celtic did. They were ruthless. That's why we've not picked up enough points since I came here."


Click here for more stories about Neil Lennon

Click here for more stories about Celtic

Share this article now:
New Celtic manager Neil Lennon on March 2, 2019
Read Next:
Neil Lennon hopes for more Celtic dynamism at Dundee
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool31237170185276
2Manchester CityMan City30242479215874
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs30201957322561
4Arsenal30186663392460
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd30177658401858
6Chelsea30176750331757
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves30128103836244
8Watford30127114244-243
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham31126134146-542
10Leicester CityLeicester31125144043-341
11Everton31117134342140
12Bournemouth31115154356-1338
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3198143140-935
14Crystal Palace3096153641-533
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2996143242-1033
16Southampton3079143450-1630
17Burnley3186173559-2430
18Cardiff CityCardiff3084182757-3028
19Fulham3145222970-4117
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3135231857-3914

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account