SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Celtic 3 Kilmarnock 1:NEIL LENNON admits sheer relief was the overriding emotion after his first game as Celtic's interim manager ended with a 3-1 trouncing of Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman moved up from reserve team manager to replace Tony Mowbray who left the club following the Hoops’ 4-0 defeat at St Mirren on Wednesday night, and he could not have wished for a better start to his managerial career.

A Robbie Keane double, taking his tally to 11 in 11 games since arriving on loan from Tottenham in January, and a Scott Brown strike made it a memorable day for the former Celtic captain, despite his team remaining 10 points behind leaders Rangers having played two games more.

Lennon said: “I spoke to (Norwich boss and former Celtic midfielder) Paul Lambert last night and he said the only emotion you will feel at the end is relief and that’s what it was basically, it’s relief that it’s over.”

Keane admits the players felt they needed to make amends to the Celtic supporters for the defeat in Paisley.

“Wednesday night wasn’t good enough, it is as simple as that,” he said.

“You can talk about this, that and the other but as players it wasn’t good enough and we had to accept that.

“Of course (we owed the fans a debt). Big time. Obviously the supporters are as disappointed as much as we are, there is no one in that dressingroom who likes losing game.”

CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel, Thompson, O'Dea, Naylor, McGeady, N'Guemo, Brown, Keane, Samaras, Fortune (Rasmussen 83). Subs not used: Zaluska, Wilson, Ki, McGowan, Braafheid, Crosas. Booked: N'Guemo.

KILMARNOCK: Bell, Clancy, Wright, Ford, Severin, Kelly (Hamill 71), Bryson, Maguire (Invincibile 46), Burchill (Fowler 20), Russell, Kyle. Subs not used: Robinson, Hay, Pascali, Davidson. Booked: Kelly, Invincibile, Hamill.

Referee: D McDonald(Scotland).