WE SHOWED GREAT SPIRIT
THE DAY ALF WON CUP – FOR CELTS
FROM BACK PAGE Old Firm thriller at the National Stadium.
But it was Celtic keeper Fraser Forster who kept his side in the contest with a man-of-the-match performance at the other end of the pitch where he kept Rangers out almost single-handedly.
Forster made a string of breathtaking stops – including keeping out an Alfredo Morelos penalty – to keep Celtic’s trophy sweep on track.
Defenders Jeremie Frimpong – despite being sent off after giving away the second-half spot-kick – and Kristoffer Ajer also earned words of praise from the boss as Lennon led the celebrations. He said: “They could easily have given it up.
“They looked half a yard off it, a little bit tentative. You could say that’s down to us or the Rangers players. But we can play a lot better than that, we know that.
“When they had to dig in and defend resolutely at times they showed that side of themselves as well.
“Then the goalkeeper, who has done it on many occasions, puts in an unbelievable performance. “I thought Ajer was outstanding today as well and so was Frimpong until he got sent off. “The rest of them were a little bit off it. “I’m thrilled and really proud of them. We had to dig in. I don’t think we played well, we didn’t play well in the first half. “We had to rely on Fraser at times to make some worldclass saves. “Then we showed great resilience, great mentality, to get the goal. “Then there is a red card and they have to dig in again. “Mikey ( Johnston) had a great chance to make it 2-0 but I am sure Rangers will say they had some great chances to win the game as well, which they did.
“To come through it and win 10 major trophies is unbelievable.
“The character, pride and resilience they showed today was outstanding. Sometimes they don’t get asked too many questions at domestic level but they showed today they have that in abundance as well.”
Lennon opted to leave talismanic striker Odsonne Edouard on the bench as the Frenchman continues to battle back to fitness.
But Edouard’s first contribution after coming on was to win the free-kick from which Jullien volleyed home the winner.
And Lennon said: “When Odsonne came on you saw the whole team perk up and the difference he makes to the team, the spark.
“His first action is to win the free-kick for the goal.
“At times he sprinkled that little bit of stardust we had been missing for the first hour.
“I have to get his take on it (starting the game) and how he is feeling. It is hugely difficult to make that decision with the quality of player that he is.
“But you don’t want to start with him not feeling right. Then he is not really there with you. He is half there, half not.
“I just felt overall we looked a bit leggy and that is understandable with this record and the way they keep going.
“But they have won again and that trophy is back in the cabinet. We march on.”