Source: Team_Talk
Lennon expects tough Killie test
eil Lennon anticipates facing a vastly-different Kilmarnock side when he takes Celtic to Rugby Park on Sunday for their SPL clash.[LNB] The Irishman has revamped the Hoops squad since taking over as Parkhead manager on a full-time basis in the summer, bringing in a team full of new players.[LNB]New Killie boss Mixu Paatelainen has also swept a new broom through the Ayrshire club and, after a sticky start to his tenure which began in June, he has been rewarded with three wins in a row, including league victories at Aberdeen and at home to St Mirren.[LNB]"Mixu has had two every good results against Aberdeen and St Mirren in the last two games so they will be very confident going into the game," Lennon said.[LNB]"I think he has changed the philosophy a bit and changed the personnel, like ourselves.[LNB]"So we will be facing a new team, a new formation with new ideas on how they are playing.[LNB]"I have to combat that and it's always difficult away from home in Scotland. You have to be focused. We have to set up to be hard to beat and also to try and score goals as well.[LNB]"We are delighted with the domestic form. The game last week was against a very well-organised, hard-to-beat Hearts team.[LNB]"We rode our luck at times but I think we merited our win with some of the football we played, so we look forward to the Killie game."[LNB]Lennon insists he is still learning on a professional and personal basis since becoming Celtic manager.[LNB]After being installed as interim boss in March following the departure of Tony Mowbray, he watched Celtic lose to First Division side Ross County in the semi-final of the Active Nation Scottish Cup while going unbeaten in the SPL until the end of the season.[LNB]Results this season have been similarly mixed with Lennon's men crashing out of two European competitions at the qualifying stages while going on a four-game winning run in the league.[LNB]The former Celtic skipper said: "It has been enjoyable, non-stop, and fulfilling and you have your good days and bad days.[LNB]"I have learned that I still have a bit to go and that there are things I can pick up and things I can learn from. But you learn more about yourself as a person than you do anything else.[LNB]"I can take a lot of positives from the experience. There are a few negatives and you learn from them as well."
