Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT LOOKS ALL OVER, DOZEN IT?
Title race gap up to 12 points
CELTIC 3 Ajer 28, Edouard 33, Griffiths 62 KILMARNOCK 1 Brophy 6 pen LEIGH GRIFFITHS has warned rivals Rangers the Celtic squad are going to be ruthless and relentless in their pursuit of the title.
The Hoops hitman grabbed his first goal at Parkhead since August as the champions clobbered Kilmarnock to take another huge stride towards retaining their crown. Celtic fans have already started the nine-in-row chants but it’s not just goals that sends roars around the ground these days.
Neil Lennon’s men were behind to a shock Killie opener yesterday yet moments later the place was bouncing as word spread about another Rangers stumble up the road in Perth.
Griffiths insisted the Hoops stars are ignoring the outside noise though and keeping their focus on the main prize.
He said: “Did what was going on elsewhere affect us? No. We just go about our business, looking to get the three points, and then we look at what has happened elsewhere.
“I think we have improved. There is a real resilience about this squad. There’s a never-saydie attitude, we keep going for the 90 minutes and are relentless.
“It’s the same in training and on the pitch. When you see the guys who can come in, it shows the strength in depth we’ve got.
“Scott Brown, James Forrest and Olivier Ntcham were all missing but look at the ones who came in and did the job.
“It’s a testament to the manager keeping everyone on their toes and working hard.”
Killie striker Eamonn Brophy scored in the seventh minute with a penalty he won when he was fouled by returning Hoops defender Jozo Simunovic.
However, goals from stopper Kristoffer Ajer, Odsonne Edouard and fellow striker Griffiths won the points.
Alex Dyer’s visiting side ended the game with 10 men after midfielder Alan Power, already booked, was sent packing by referee Kevin Clancy for his challenge on right-back Jeremie Frimpong.
Despite the 12-point gap to Rangers, boss Neil Lennon is taking nothing for granted. “The performance and reaction to going a goal down pleased me most,” said Lennon. “I felt the first goal shouldn’t have counted as Brophy was offside when he got the ball.
“But the title is a million miles away as far as we are concerned, we just want to concentrate on our affairs.
“In the second half we were outstanding, some of our football was simply irresistible.”
Lennon is confident Forrest will recover from the knock that kept him out to face FC Copenhagen in the Europa League on Thursday.