POINT BREAK
Lennon: I’m so proud to manage this team... they are relentless
LIVI ........ 2 CELTIC...2
NEIL LENNON insists it’s a privilege to be in charge of his Celtic squad after taking another huge stride towards wrapping up the Premiership.
The champions rescued a point at Livingston last night thanks to Tom Rogic’s stoppage-time leveller – and increased their lead at the top to 13 points on the back of Rangers crashing to defeat to Hamilton.
Lennon felt his men deserved to win in West Lothian but accepted the
draw with the high-flying Lions could prove to be pivotal in the grand scheme of the title race.
The Celtic boss was convinced his men would come back and said: “I was pleased with them all. The whole team was brilliant. It’s a privilege to manage this team.
“I’m delighted with the performance, we deserved all three points. I was disappointed with manner of their goals.
“Their first could have been a foul on Fraser, the second was poor from our point of view – but the rest of the game we were magnificent.
“Against a difficult opponent on a difficult pitch we were absolutely outstanding and I had total belief we could get an equaliser and Tom came up with the goods.
“Livingston were hanging on and we broke them and got the least that we deserved.
“We dominated for a long period and I’m disappointed at the first points we have dropped in 2020.”
Lennon insisted he was paying no attention to news from Ibrox as Steven Gerrard’s side slipped further back.
But he hailed his own players for refusing to accept defeat after Jon Guthrie and Scott Robinson overturned Callum McGregor’s strike to threaten Celtic’s unbeaten start to 2020.
Lennon said: “You can’t be giving away sloppy goals.
“We set high standards and that’s the first points we’ve dropped in 2020 but in the context of the evening it was good. It was always going to be a tough fixture but the way we played pleased me more than anything. We were brilliant, relentless.
“I don’t think Livingston offered anything other than long throws and the odd breakaway. We were entertaining, I’m pleased to get a point.”
Lennon was delighted to see Rogic come off the bench and grab a point at the death.
He said: “I’m pleased for Tom. He has an knee issue and Astroturf pitches are not his favourite surface.
“I wanted to start him but he wasn’t keen – we got 25 minutes out of him and his goal.”
Livi gaffer Gary Holt refused to be downbeat despite coming within minutes of completing the double over Celtic.
The Lions won 2-0 in October and gave the champs another stern test as they made it 10 games unbeaten at home.
Holt said: “I’m buzzing. They are an exceptional side with a never-say-die attitude. They had three talented attacking option to put the pressure on us.
“There were 95 minutes and there were 96 and a half.”
Hitman Lyndon Dykes gave £7million Hoops defender Christopher Jullien another torrid night – with Australia scouts in the stands.
He’s also on Scotland’s radar and Holt admitted it’s time to test him at international level.
Holt said: “On his performances and what he’s done this season, he deserves to be called up.”