Neil Lennon has already kicked one of Brendan Rodgers’ golden rules for six- the new boss doesn’t want to see passing triangles around his own penalty box.
In his first match in charge Lennon watched 10 man Hearts earn a penalty after Scott Bain kept things just too neat around the penalty box. Firtunately Odsonne Edouard saved the day with a last gasp winner.
After half a dozen games in charge Brendan Rodgers brought in Dorus de Vries to play his style of sweeper/keeper but the Leicester boss swallowed his pride and brought back Gordon when he realised that it wasn’t working out for the Dutchman.
Gordon’s form attracted the interest of Chelsea but he never quite took the passing game on board with his final first team match, at Ibrox in December the perfect example.
Short passes, particularly with Dedryck Boyata presented the home team with a number of chances, fortunately, on the day Gordon pulled off half a dozen great saves to keep the score down. Since then Bain has been the first choice keeper.
The former Dundee keeper has played in Celtic’s first three matches of the season but tonight against Nomme Kalju Gordon comes in from the cold to stake his claim
Discussing the Rodgers way Lennon told The Sun:
But being good at kicking? That’s far less a factor for me, I like my keepers to keep the ball out of the net! I’ve got two who are very good at that. Craig Gordon has really impressed me in training, and in the bounce games we’ve played, and Scott Bain has been brilliant for me.
Since I came in, Bain’s been absolutely outstanding. I don’t want to turn this into a p****** contest between the two of them. I don’t want to put any extra pressure on either one of them. I’ve got the luxury of having two very good keepers at the minute and, if called upon, I’m sure either of them will come in and do a terrific job for me.
Christopher Jullien and Olivier Ntcham are expected to join Gordon in the starting XI in Estonia tonight.