Nine months ago Neil Lennon spoke emotionally to the Celtic support with words that could have made him or broken him.
“This isn’t the end, this is just the beginning,” Lennon told an emotional Celtic Park after his side had been pipped for the title by a single point at the end of a season loaded with controversy.
At various stages this season those words could have come back to haunt Lennon as his side looked like crumbling under a horrendous injury list whilst Rangers charged forward on a winning run with Ally McCoist bolstering the squad he had inherited with the additions of Juan Ortiz, Matt Mackay and Alejandro Bedoya.
October and November contained many bleak moments for the Celtic boss but 13 SPL wins later the outlook is much brighter but the last person to take anything for granted is the Celtic boss.
Leading into the visit to Tynecastle Lennon voiced his concerns about nothing being won but it looked as if the players took that on as a challenge last night.
Everyone knew that the visit to Gorgie would be the best indicator of the year about Celtic’s quality, bottle and nerve.
While others looked in hoping for a faltering display to match Motherwell or Inverness away last season Celtic turned on the style to set off a party atmosphere with three stunning first half goals to demoralise Hearts.
“We wanted to put pressure on those chasing us,” Lennon said afterwards knowing that any slip up would have provided renewed optimism to Rangers as McCoist looks to re-sign Daniel Cousin.
In Scott Brown Lennon has a kindred spirit, both men have watched Rangers win three titles and know that a fourth in unacceptable for anyone at Celtic.
Brown scored for the fourth game running last night and is determined to drive on to ensure that the SPL trophy returns to Celtic Park.
He said: “The gaffer spoke about complacency earlier in the week and I think we are always going to keep that at the back of our mind.
“We are playing really well just now but we also know this run can easily turn on its head.
“The positive thing is we’re confident just now, as the games keep coming we keep going into them looking forward to them.
“It was a good performance from the lads, we were determined to come away with the three points and I think that’s as good as we have played this season.
“We are getting to know each other better and better every game we play. We’re getting stronger every day, looking good in training and we just need to take that into games.”
CLICK HERE for Lambert dismisses Rangers bid for Grant Holt
CLICK HERE for Butcher: It was like a training session for Celtic
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A great result for the hoops last nite. Broony led by example and put in a terrific performance. The sing song was top drawer too. More of the same will do nicely. Mon the Hoops!
Simply wonderful stuff last night. I think Broony really is playing the best since he came here. He’s turning into the player we were buying him for. It’s taken him a while but I think Lenny has been the man to bring the best out of him. Love the way he supports his players, whether it be Broony or Sami. He seems to have learned that from the blessed MON: neither being big on tactics but “support your players, heap praise on them even when others don’t think they should, because in the end it will pay dividends”. Brilliant stuff.
It’s hard to believe that it’s only been 1 season since all the shame of sectarianism, thankfully it’s past & hopefully never to return but i doubt it. I think all ‘their’ off field problems have helped take the attenion in another direction.
As for Broony what a difference, not the yellow cards every game but the same passion. It was no coincidence that during our bad spell he was out injured. We missed him driving us forward, i’m really happy he signed his contract.