Lennon sets new targets for unbeaten Celtic

24 February 2014 01:02

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has challenged his players to make history by smashing the club's own record points haul in the Scottish Premiership.

The Hoops boss has watched proudly on as goalkeeper Fraser Forster first surpassed the club's clean sheet record before setting a new Scottish shut-out record in the 2-0 win on Saturday.

The English 'keeper has now gone 13 consecutive matches and 1,215 minutes without conceding a goal as he closes in on Edwin van der Sar's British record.

Now Lennon has set his sights on surpassing another landmark in what could be a record-breaking league campaign.

Lennon was part of the Celtic team that racked up 103 points under Martin O'Neill in the 2000/2001 season.

However, the Parkhead boss believes his squad can top that, with his side on target to reach 108 points if they win their remaining 12 games.

"It would be quite something to get more than 100 points and more than we got under Martin in 2002," Lennon said.

"It is a target we are aiming for. We want to try to remain unbeaten until the end of the season but it might be a step too far."

Celtic head north to Aberdeen on Tuesday night looking for their 16th consecutive league win but they will find it tough at Pittodrie.

The Dons defeated Lennon's side at Parkhead a fortnight ago to knock the Hoops out of the Scottish Cup and were the last side to score past Forster on league duty way back in November.

Derek McInnes' side are Celtic's closest challengers, albeit 24 points off the pace after a surprise 3-1 defeat to Partick Thistle on Saturday, and Lennon knows his side can expect a tough test on Tuesday night.

"Aberdeen are the only team to have scored against us in quite a while now and they provide us with very stiff opposition," Lennon said.

"They played very well against us a couple of weeks ago. Our focus is on maintaining this run now. We've broken the clean sheet record and we would like to go as long as possible unbeaten but that is going to be very difficult.

"It's got all the ingredients for a great game and we will need to maintain our focus between now and the end of the season if we are to remain undefeated."

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Ross County host Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Victoria Park for the Highland derby and St Johnstone welcome Motherwell to McDiarmid Park.

Fixtures (1945 unless otherwise stated)

Tuesday

Aberdeen v Celtic

Ross County v Inverness CT

St Johnstone v Motherwell

Source: AFP