Lennon’s men alert enough to emerge in driving seat

FOR ALL BREAKING SPORTS NEWS VISIT dailymail.co.uk/ sport

IT was a night when square pegs were largely placed in square holes. The upshot was a Celtic side showing far greater poise and balance. One that is now relishing the second leg of a tie that has swung significantly in their favour.

There was never any question of Neil Lennon adopting the same lop-sided approach which had cost him so dearly against Cluj nine days previously.

Absent from that wounding defeat, Boli Bolingoli was belatedly deployed at left-back.

The Belgian wasn’t perfect here. Far from it, in fact. But there were also plentiful encouraging signs that he may yet win his manager’s full trust.

More significantly, Callum McGregor, Bolingoli’s deputy last midweek, was restored to his regular beat in the middle of the park and the result was assurance and calm filtering throughout the side.

It is safe to say he will be playing nowhere else soon.

Even with Kristoffer Ajer forced to switch to right-back as a replacement for Hatem Abd Elhamed, Celtic, in general, were far better equipped for the task.

Christopher Jullien’s reputation also emerged enhanced after a diligent shift.

They had to show patience against a dogged AIK side but were deserving of the two-goal lead they will take to Sweden courtesy of James Forrest’s customary European goal and a gem of a free-kick by Odsonne Edouard.

Without the suspended Tarik Elyounoussi, their top scorer, AIK did not have their troubles to seek before the game.

Not that you’d have known it. What a racket the pocket of excitable fans from Stockholm made throughout.

The din they made was audible largely because a wet and windswept Celtic Park was some way below capacity, a clear lingering hangover from exiting the Champions League.

‘Don’t sleep at wheel,’ was the none too subtle pre-match message from the Green Brigade to the club’s custodians. The presence of Fraser Forster on the pitch at half-time was welcome but evidently by no means the last piece of business in this window that will be required to appease the masses.

It wasn’t just a deep-lying opponent that Lennon’s side had to overcome here. There were nerves in their own ranks that inhibited them early on: Scott Brown’s misplaced pass, Jozo Simunovic knocking the ball straight out of play, Bolingoli’s heavy touch.

The cobwebs from last midweek were evident.

Give the Belgian this much, though; despite a couple of early errors, he never hid thereafter. Indeed, it was his smart reverse pass which finally got his side started — Mikey Johnston seeing his resultant shot tipped wide.

With that, Edouard seemed to walk a little taller, although a goal was yet to come.

Any frustration from Celtic or their manager lasted just three minutes in to the second half.

Gordon’s clip to Bolingoli started the move which ended with Rasmus Lindkvist hacking a clearance straight at Forrest and the winger finding sufficient power to see his shot beat Linner. The dilemma for Lennon was immediately obvious. By continuing on the front foot, a second goal seemed attainable.

But surely the more cherished outcome was the clean sheet? The compromise was to play forward but with caution and to take risks only where they could afford them. Ryan Christie almost did the trick with a fierce drive following another breathless run but a deflection denied him. AIK eventually worked out the object of the game. Alas, it was a Bolingoli error which gave Sigthorsson a free sight of goal. To Gordon’s relief, the Icelander fluffed his lines.

But Celtic were more purposeful in possession than a week ago. They took greater care of the ball. They made fouls in the right areas.

Crucially, Johnston also won one 23 yards out with 17 minutes left. It seemed perfect for the benched Leigh Griffiths but what an able deputy Edouard proved. Linner didn’t have an earthly as the ball found the top corner.

Thereafter, the green-and-white cavalry were conspicuous by their absence. If Lennon will have been annoyed neither Olivier Ntcham, Edouard or Lewis Morgan could add a third, the discipline his side showed was commendable.

Harsh lessons have quickly been learned.