Lennon hopes to rely on Hoops’ home comforts
Neil Lennon believes Celtic can stretch one of the UK’S most- durable home re c o rd s w h e n Rangers make the short trip across the Glasgow.
Remarkably, it is four years since the Hoops last lost a competitive league game on their own patch – a Louis Moult double helping Motherwell to a 2- 1 win at Celtic Park on December 19, 2015. Aberdeen fans can point to a win in May, 2018, but by then the hosts had already been crowned champions for what was their seventh title-in-a-row.
“Being at home is a comfort,” said Lennon.
“I think it gives us a big advantage, though, to be fair, we played really well at Ibrox. We were strong mentally, and played superbly overall.
“Our home form has been very consistent for a number of years and this season, of course, it has been spectacular.
“This is our first time against Rangers at Celtic Park in this campaign. “So far we have had one at a neutral venue and one at Ibrox and won both, which is another comfort going into the game.”
It is a measure of how close Steven Gerrard’s side came to matching, if not beating, Celtic in the Betfred Cup Final at the start of the month, that the Irishman is speaking in such terms.
With the two rivals having taken a combined 96 out of the 105 points they have played for, Lennon admits today’s derby has the feeling of a showdown to it.
“It’s almost like a cup final again. It’s like a oneoff isolated game where both teams are at the top of their form,” he said.
“In a way, it is a shame you’ve got this game at the end of it all. Rangers have had eight games (in December), we’ve had nine.
“The teams are running on fumes sometimes, but both seem to find a way to win. In the main, they’ve won well.
“It’s really impressive consistency from both teams.
“They’re winning games and in the main they’re winning them well. “So it may boil down to the games against each other.
“I can’t predict that. You never know what might happen in the second half of the season.
“If you take this game in isolation, it’s the next one. So it’s the most important, regardless of the circumstances. “So we are happy to be at home, and we’ve also got Odsonne Edouard back, which is a big plus for us.
“So m e t i m e s yo u’re only as good as your centre- forward and he’s one of the best around, so that’s a big plus.
“In terms of the tactics on the day, I don’t think there will be huge amount of changes. You don’t really have the time.”