WE’RE A MILLION MILES AWAY FROM THE TITLE

Lennon warns league battle not over despite a 12-point advantage

NEIL LENNON insists Celtic are still a ‘million miles away’ from nine-in-a-row despite another huge day in the race for the Premiership title.

news of a late St Johnstone equaliser against Rangers in Perth filtered through seconds after Kilmarnock claimed a shock lead from the penalty spot at Parkhead.

Despite watching his side bounce back to open up a 12-point lead over the Ibrox club through goals from Kristoffer Ajer, odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths, however, the Celtic boss claims that nothing is settled yet.

Twelve points and 20 goals better off than their arch-rivals, another title is now within touching distance — despite Lennon’s reluctance to discuss the matter.

‘I don’t want to talk about titles. I just want to talk about the game,’ said the northern Irishman. ‘The title is a million miles away as far as we are concerned.

‘We just want to concentrate on our affairs.

‘Since the turn of the year, we have been magnificent. The fact we have won ten domestic games (in a row) says my team is very good.

‘I don’t want to keep going on about mentality and stuff but we really do have some outstanding footballers.’

Eamonn Brophy’s sixth-minute penalty eked out a rare lead for Killie in Glasgow’s east end.

news of St Johnstone’s goal from Perth settled nerves on and off the pitch, with efforts from Ajer and a 26th strike of the season from Edouard turning the game on its head before half-time.

‘The performance and the reaction to going a goal down pleased me most,’ added Lennon (below).

‘Though I felt the first shouldn’t have counted as Brophy was offside when he got the ball.

‘In the second half, we were outstanding and I think some of our football was simply irresistible at times.

‘There was a lot of good football and the guys deserve a lot of credit.’

Captain Scott Brown missed the game with an injury sustained in Copenhagen and remains a doubt for Thursday’s second leg of the Europa League last-32 clash in Glasgow. Winger James Forrest and olivier ntcham also sat out the Kilmarnock match, with late tests likely on all three.

‘Jamesy should be fine but we will have to wait and see with the other two,’ added Lennon. ‘olly has a bit of a calf strain that he has been playing with for the past two games and we didn’t want to risk him.

‘I’m delighted with the guys who came in. Delighted with the quality and desire to get the ball back at times.

‘Kilmarnock are a good side and a difficult nut to crack. But we played very well today, first of all from a sense of injustice from losing the goal. There was real controlled aggression after that.’

Callum McGregor assumed the captain’s armband in the absence of Brown, emerging as the game’s best player in a holding role.

‘I see him in the role of captain but in that position?’ questioned Lennon. ‘Maybe when he’s the other side of 30. He’s got a lot to offer higher up the pitch but we wanted him in there.

‘You can see what a good player he is. I say “good” but that’s an understatement. At this level, he’s different class and he’s a contender for Player of the Year, the way he’s played this season.

‘I thought his performance today was immaculate.’

Griffiths sealed the points for Celtic with his eighth goal of the season after a second yellow card for Alan Power saw Kilmarnock play the final half hour with ten men.

Insisting the Rangers result had no impact on events, the Scotland striker said the current Celtic side have actually improved on previous seasons.

Asked if what was going on elsewhere affected his team, Grififths said: ‘no. We just go about our business, looking to get the three points, and then we look at what has happened elsewhere.

‘We knew there was a long time to go and we knew what Kilmarnock would come and do. It was just up to us trying to break them down.

‘We knew that we would get chances — it was just about putting them away.

‘It’s disappointing going a goal down but you are confident you are going to create plenty of chances.

‘We got three and, if we are honest, we were disappointed not to have scored more. ‘Most teams who come here try to place a low block and catch us on the break. But you just know we’ll create when you look around and see guys like odsonne, Ryan (Christie) and Tom (Rogic) all out there. ‘Then there’s Greg (Taylor) and Jeremie (Frimpong) down the sides putting in fantastic crosses. ‘It’s just about staying patient and wearing them down.’