Lennon bites back at critics over Hoops title credentials

NEIL LENNON has shot down suggestions his side are on the slide and insisted Celtic will prove the champions are still top dogs in Scotland.

The Hoops boss is raring to get back to Premiership business at Kilmarnock tonight and blasted talk the title momentum has shifted across to Ibrox in the wake of the Old Firm defeat to Rangers before the break. Celtic have won 13 out of their last 14 domestic dust ups, reclaimed the Betfred Cup and booked their place in the Scottish Cup last 16 in the first half of the campaign.

Lennon roared critics have been too hasty in claiming the Parkhead club’s dominance was in decline. He said: “It is very premature. Looking at the league table we are still top of the league even though they have a game in hand. “We won the Betfred Cup and up until the Rangers game we had won 11 league games in a row. “So we are very positive about the second half of the season.

“So look, I can’t control what other people think.

“You expect it sometimes off the back of a defeat but a lot of people over the years have been proven wrong.

“There seems to be a bit of doom and gloom around the place.

“Certainly not here – but elsewhere.

“People say we staggered to a win at the weekend. I thought we were very comfortable.

“We’ve got to ignore that and just come out of the blocks and be as strong as we possibly can.

“After a defeat there is a bit of gloom malingering around the place.

“Not here, but in general. It’s probably a modern day phenomenon and you are only as good as your next game.

“I thought we did well against Thistle, difficult opponents and a difficult pitch.

“I thought we should have won by more and I am looking for the same at Kilmarnock.

“They can use the criticism as motivation. He’s been through it before, they have good character and good motivation.

“We’ll need all that going forward allied with the quality and will to win.

W e have that in abundance.”