Lennon praises youngsters after Hoops lose to Lyon

Moussa Dembele was on target against former club Celtic as Neil Lennon’s men went down to a 2-1 pre-season defeat by Lyon.

Lennon made 10 changes to the team that started in the midweek draw with Nice and his inexperienced side fell behind in the fourth minute when Dembele headed home.

Memphis Depay doubled the hosts’ lead before the break but Celtic improved after Lennon made 10 substitutions around the hour mark and Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled a goal back.

Celtic boss Lennon said: “I don’t think the younger players will have come up against opposition as good as that before, so I think it’s great for them.

“I’m pretty pleased with how they did against players of that level and with their contributions.

“Karamoko Dembele flashes, which was great. showed

“It was a mixture of teams and physically it was an examination because these guys have not played football for five months.

“Then the boys who came on for the last half-hour played very well and scored a very good goal.”

Rangers had already won the Veolia Trophy before hosts Lyon and Celtic lined up at the Groupama Stadium but Lennon was more focused on getting his squad players fit.

The Hoops boss started with teenagers Karamoko Dembele and Scott Robertson plus 20-year-old Ewan Henderson in midfield with goalkeeper Scott Bain the only player to keep his starting place.

Former Celtic striker Dembele was left unmarked to head home early on before Depay netted just before the interval with a clever flick.

Elyounoussi scored an impressive solo goal in the closing stages.