No place for complacency at Hamilton, says Lennon

NEIL Lennon has warned his Celtic players against complacency and told them there would be no point in beating Rangers if they subsequently slipped up at Hamilton.

The manager of the Scottish champions conceded there was a significant difference between playing in a derby game at a hostile and packed-out Ibrox compared to Hamilton’s Fountain of Youth Stadium, on their plastic pitch and in front of a crowd of less than 5000, as they will do on Saturday.

One of Celtic’s great strengths in recent seasons has been the players’ ability to raise themselves for the less glamorous Ladbrokes Premiership matches after big wins, and Lennon is determined this run continues following that derby win and the international break.

Lennon said: “There is no point in winning at Ibrox and then slipping up at Hamilton. My problem is that I won’t get a lot of them back until Thursday, so I’ll have them for a couple of days and then we have an early kick-off – not that I’m complaining. I just have to hope that they all come back fit and healthy.

“They will all come back in dribs and drabs, so again it’s important to keep in contact with what is going on with them. I might watch a few games. There is still a core of players here. We’ll work them hard and then give them a few days off.

“Going from Ibrox to Hamilton is where you are looking to Scott Brown, Callum McGregor, James Forrest – the lads who have been here for a while and know what it’s all about. And the consistent performers as well, like Ryan Christie – but for the new ones this will be new challenge.

“It’s actually something that’s not a major worry for me. Going to Hamilton is a totally different environment from the Rangers game. But in Scotland you have got here and there – but you have to win.

“There is a disparity between some games in Scotland. Complacency is your enemy after a big high and a huge concentrated effort. “It’s been a very demanding month but they have come thought it very well. You do want that momentum going, and we have built up some against Rangers but we don’t want that to dip.”

Celtic, who will be missing in-form winger Mikey Johnston this weekend after he was forced to withdraw from the Scotland Under-21 squad earlier this week with a groin injury, could also be without star striker Odsonne Edouard for their European qualifiers next season after the striker targeted playing for France in the Olympics.

Edouard has enjoyed a stunning start to his Under-21 career having scored four goals in two games against Albania and Czech Republic respectively. Now he’s desperate to force his way into the Olympic squad in Japan.

Edouard said: “My aim, I’ve already had this discussion with the coach, is to play in as many matches as possible – and to have a place as a starter and a leader in the squad.

“I am thinking about [the Olympics]; however, we are still far away from that. We have a season to complete.”