Source: FOOTYMAD
Second was a must
Things are improving but a little too late to make a real difference. Neil Lennon believes the 2-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice showed that he is slowly moulding a Celtic side in his own image. The Hoops' interim boss and former captain, who made his name as a tenacious and spiky midfield player, watched his players go toe-to-toe with the Taysiders and win a tetchy encounter with a first-half Diomansy Kamara strike and a late Robbie Keane penalty. The victory was enough to secure second place in the SPL but not enough to stop Rangers clinching the title later in the day, the Light Blues' 1-0 win at Hiba keeping the championship at Ibrox. However, Lennon was happy to see his players battling all the way. He said: "I like the balance of having a bit of dig with entertainment, going away from home and earning the right to play football. I saw a team out there working for each other. There was a wee melee and all the players were in there. I don't mind that, we don't want to be intimidated any more. Some of the football was magnificent and it was wonderful result. To finish second and to keep winning games was important." Diomansy Kamara admits second spot in the SPL was a must for Celtic following their Active Nation Scottish Cup exit to Ross County. This month's 2-0 defeat against the First Division side at Hampden ended any realistic hopes of the Parkhead club winning a trophy this season and dented the chances of interim boss Neil Lennon getting the job on a permanent basis. However, recent weeks have shown a marked improvement and a fifth SPL win in a row against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday confirmed second place behind champions Rangers. Kamara scored the opener for the Hoops and a late Robbie Keane penalty ended United's hopes of leapfrogging into second place in the final weeks of the season. Kamara said: "We won't win a trophy this season but I think we have a good squad. The target was to get to the final of the Scottish Cup but we lost the semi-final. The target then was to qualify for the Champions League and we have qualified. I think the performance against United was terrific. We played well against a good team, beat them and left them 10 points behind. So we have qualified for the Champions League and that is the most important thing." On another day, Kamara may have had a hat-trick but the wide midfielder was simply glad to take all three points. He said: "I had a few chances. I scored one and missed a good chance at the start of the second half but the most important thing was to win the game." United boss Peter Houston and Lennon were at loggerheads after the Irishman claimed only his side wanted to win the rather tetchy game. Houston also claimed referee Iain Brines sent off substitute Jennison Myrie-Williams by mistake, believing him to be Prince Buaben when he handed out his second yellow card. Kamara, on loan from Fulham, admits the encounter was a bit more physical than he would have liked. he said: "Dundee United are a very good team and they wanted to beat us. It was a good Scottish game and I enjoyed it. There were eight or nine yellow cards and a red card but English and Scottish football is physical. I think it was too physical but the most important thing that we won the game."
