NEIL Lennon has spent the weekend suffering from toothache. “It is making my eyes water,” said Celtic’s interim manager.
A managerial record of six Scottish Premier League wins in a row will provide an antidote. If Celtic can go further by beating Rangers in tomorrow’s final Old Firm derby of the season, Lennon’s case to be appointed permanently will be stronger than many anticipated.
The 38-year-old is aware that defeating Rangers will numb at least some of the pain of the Celtic supporters, who have been forced to ensure a barren and largely dismal season. “Even if I was the permanent manager this would still be a significant game,” said Lennon. “Players are defined by it, managers are defined by it. There is nothing riding on it because the league has gone [to Rangers] but the next Old Firm game is always the most important one. We have to salvage something from our season. I don’t think it would be fair if this one match defined my future but I don’t think that’s the case anyway. People are just speculating that my job, my role for next season, depends on beating Rangers.”
An impressive second-half showing from Celtic saw off Motherwell on Saturday. Aiden McGeady, who in Lennon’s words “is due a big performance against Rangers”, opened the scoring before Darren O’Dea, Robbie Keane and the debutant James Forrest rounded things off.
Lennon said he could not have envisaged a winning run stretching to six games. “But on the other hand, I thought I might be in a cup final,” he added.
