NEIL HAILS HERO FRASER

LENNON last night saluted hero Fraser Forster after the keeper’s crucial penalty save kept Celtic in pole position to make the last 16 of the Europa League.

The Parkhead manager poured praise on his number one after his fourth spot-kick stop of the season secured a

1-1 draw with FC Copenhagen in Denmark.

Forster’s fingertips denied home star Jens Stage from 12 yards after Celtic became the first Scottish club punished by VAR when a handball by Ryan Christie 14 minutes from time was caught on camera.

But Lennon said: “Credit to Fraser, he’s done brilliantly with a magnificent save. That’s all down to the work that he does behind the scenes.

“I had no real complaint about the penalty, it does come off Ryan’s arm in an unnatural position.”

“It would have been really harsh on us if we’d lost the game with the amount of chances we had, especially in the first half.”

The Celtic boss (left) was in reflective mood at the end of the see-saw first leg tie.

Lennon said: “I thought we had good control of the first half and going in 1-0 at half-time I thought we could have been two or three up.

“We gave away a poor goal from our point of view and it gave Copenhagen a huge lift psychology.

“We lost it in a bad area and didn’t react well enough. It was sloppy from our point of view.

“But on the counter-attack we had some great chances in the second half as well, so I’m disappointed we haven’t come away with more goals.

“I think most people would have taken that [scoreline] before the game.”