Lennon warns players to keep focus in league

than that. I didn’t think we were bad. Some of the passing was decent. However, the final ball at times lacked quality and there was a lack of urgency at times as well.

‘I was also annoyed with the chances we missed, particularly towards the last 15 minutes.

‘We were a wee bit pedestrian for a good period of the game, sloppy at times with the ball but we missed good chances. Easy chances, really. We salvaged a point but realistically we should have won the game.’

With players either on the treatment table or away on international friendly duty, Lennon was upbeat after the match about gaining a point against the league’s new boys. He brought on youngsters Watt and Paul Slane, with the former playing a part in the equaliser.

‘I knew, with the players we had out and the lack of preparation we had this week, it was going to be a difficult game,’ Lennon noted. ‘We gave the players all the warnings. I think the goal at the end gives us confidence, it showed great character.

‘We certainly deserved something, we had plenty of corners, plenty of chances. So in that respect that’s pleasing.

‘We’ve come away with a point in the end and, on the face of it, that’s not bad. We had 11 missing, including four main strikers. You miss that quality. You’re always going to suffer a little bit in front of goal.

‘We had to change the shape of the team to the personnel that we had. In the end, we threw a few of the kids on and they did brilliantly. I was pleased with that contribution.

‘County were determined to hold on to their unbeaten record — and we expected that. They were well drilled and motivated. To get through this game unscathed, injury-wise, and with a point — I suppose you’ve got to be happy with that.’

Last season’s top scorer Hooper had a scan on a hamstring problem on Friday but Lennon expects him to be fit to lead the line against Helsingborgs.

In addition to those recovering from fitness issues, Ki Sung Yueng is expected back in the fold following his Olympics stint with South Korea.

‘Ki should be in decent nick,’ said Lennon. ‘He’s had a demanding month, so we gave him time to recover. We’ll have him in over the weekend and, all being well, he goes straight into the squad.’

Charlie Mulgrew, Celtic’s captain yesterday, expects a better performance when their Champions League group phase hopes go on the line this week. He said: ‘We are not making any excuses, we never played the way we can. We got a point in the end, which we are reasonably happy with, especially scoring in the last minute. We should be looking to win these games and we are disappointed.

‘We will just put this game behind us now and we know we have to do better. The Champions League game is always there in your mind but we had to concentrate on getting the three points here and we just didn’t do enough to do that.

‘You always believe when you are on the pitch that you will get something. If we could have scored earlier, we might have gone on and won it.’