Source: Team_Talk
Lennon keen to make Hoops case
eil Lennon admits he will be disappointed if two final Scottish Premier League victories do not secure him the Celtic manager's job.[LNB] Second-half goals from Aiden McGeady, Darren O'Dea, debutant James Forrest and Robbie Keane against Motherwell at Parkhead on Saturday extended the interim boss' winning run in the league to six games and nicely sets up the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park on Tuesday.[LNB]Lennon expects to learn his fate following the trip to Hearts next Sunday, but asked about the chance of losing out after six more points, he said: "That's life. That's football.[LNB]"The decision is not in my hands. All I can do is try and put as strong a case forward as I can. Obviously I would be disappointed but we are talking hypothetically.[LNB]"I might not get the job but I will take that as it comes. I'm just looking forward to the Rangers game.[LNB]"People are speculating that my job for next season depends on whether I beat Rangers or not. I don't think it's fair but I also don't think that's the case.[LNB]"However, even if I was permanent manager the Rangers game would be a significant game. The players are defined by it, the managers are defined by it.[LNB]"There is nothing riding on it in terms of the league is gone but the next Old Firm game is the most important one and we have to salvage something from this season."[LNB]Celtic struggled a bit in the first half but came alive after Lennon delivered the half-time pep-talk.[LNB]Four minutes after the break McGeady beat Well goalkeeper John Ruddy from the edge of the box with a delightful chip and in the 78th minute his cross was headed in from close range by O'Dea.[LNB]Forrest came on for McGeady and scored two minutes from time before Keane, on for Morten Rasmussen, made it 4-0 in the dying seconds.[LNB]Lennon was lavish in his praise of 18-year-old Forrest, adding: "He's a kid I've worked with all year. He excites the life out of me. I don't want to get carried away but I have been waiting to get him in the squad.[LNB]"He has been fantastic in the games he has played for me in the development squad. I wanted to give him his chance and I was so pleased for him."[LNB]Lennon also singled out his skipper Scott Brown for special praise.[LNB]He said: "I think Scott Brown is playing brilliantly at the moment. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea and I know he has a lot to do to win over the Celtic fans, but in the last four or five games he is looking like the best midfielder in Scotland."[LNB]O'Dea stressed the importance of finishing off the season with a win over Rangers at the fourth time of asking.[LNB]"It's big," the Irish defender said. "I know as a Celtic player and a Celtic fan it hurts every day when you pick up a paper and see blue on the back pages.[LNB]"So it will mean a lot to us if we can shut it up for a day. The season has not been good enough and Tuesday is a massive test for each and every player, including myself.[LNB]"The league table doesn't show if you have been hard done by, it just shows the champions at the top of it and we aren't there.[LNB]"It hurts and we need to make sure that it doesn't happen next year."[LNB]Despite the defeat, Motherwell remain in fourth place and can clinch a Europa League spot with victory over Hibernian at Fir Park on Wednesday.[LNB]Manager Craig Brown praised chairman John Boyle for reducing ticket prices for the game.[LNB]He said: "I've got to credit the chairman, its £10 to get in and £1 for juveniles and OAPs. It's a good gesture to encourage the people of Motherwell to come out and support the team."[LNB]Brown is hoping his side show more fight against Hibs than they did against the Hoops.[LNB]"It wasn't a deceptive scoreline," he said. "I think the better team won and I was very disappointed. I told the players that tackling was allowed.[LNB]"We spent the entire 90 minutes with hardly a tackle. We have the best disciplinary record in the league, with the fewest yellow and red cards.[LNB]"I'm not advocating more yellow cards but advocating more tackles. That was unacceptable."
