Lenny backing side to come good in big-game test again BHOYS
yesterday and said: “We just carry on as normal. Our preparations have been good, as best as we possibly could get them under the circumstances.
“We only got everyone back as a group today.
“I take no notice of what people will predict or what they think the outcome will be, because it doesn’t really matter.
“They don’t know what is going on or how we’ve prepared for the game.
“I’m delighted if they want to write us off, they’ve done that many times before.
“It’s just about winning the game. It gives you a psychological lift if you can win the first one but I don’t think it will have a major bearing on the outcome of the season.
“It’s too early for that. We heard all that chat at the end of December that we were finished blah, blah, blah.
“We came out all guns blazing in the second half of the season. It’s really difficult to predict how a season is going to go.
“What I am pleased with is our consistency. It’s been quite a stop-start season in terms of games being cancelled and international breaks.
“So it’s been difficult to get any sort of momentum going.
“But we’ve negotiated those circumstances very well of late.”
Circumstances which, of course, have included no fans inside any stadiums.
Lennon accepts it will be a different derby today and said: “I still believe spectators could and should be coming to the matches, but that’s the government’s decision to make, not mine.
“One of the great things about these games is the atmosphere they generate, the colour, the noise and the intensity.
“Just that crackle in the air. All of that is going to be different so it’s going to be like no other.
“It will be sad but, once the kick-off comes, your focus is on the game itself, as it always is.
“There will be part of me which thinks, ‘God, this just doesn’t feel right.’ But you have to get past that very quickly.
“The players are 15 or 16 games into playing with no supporters, even on international duty. Whether you get used to it or not, I think you become more accustomed to it.
“It’s certainly not ideal and it does take away the home advantage, there’s no question about that.”
With this in mind, adaptation will be key for Lennon, who could have debutants in the fixture such as Shane Duffy, Vasilis Barkas and Diego Laxalt. At the other end of the spectrum, he’s got Scott Brown.wn.
The skipper will play in thehe game for the 40th time and thehe boss added: “His experience will be pivotal to us.
“Even as a player, his all-roundnd game is good at the minute.
“You could see when I left himim out at St Johnstone that his influence was missing. Of courserse we’ll have all that back.
“He knows these games es more than most. He’s stilll a great leader and he likes the he big games.
“These are the games which h fans remember more than any y and it’s always important to o play the game strongly and d play it well, especially if it’s your first one.
“Shane will be champing amping at the bit and he’s beenen a star for us ever since he came in.
“He has leadership qualities, he’s good in the dressing-room and, in general, his s play has been of a very y high standard.
“Even in the three e games he’s just played ed for the Republic of Ireland, he’s been at absolute rock.
“He’ll be very, very ery important, he’ll give us that physical presence nce which is always crucialal in these games.
“It’s always goodd for debutants to play welll and make their mark onn the game and we’ll have a few having their first tastee of it.
“I just hope thatt they remember it for thee right reasons.”