Source: Team_Talk
Battling Brown delights Lennon
eil Lennon has paid tribute to the selfless job done by Scott Brown for Celtic - a thankless task the interim boss is only too familiar with.[LNB] Lennon carved out a successful playing career mostly as an engine-room spoiler.[LNB]And after taking over from Tony Mowbray just under a fortnight ago, the former Crewe, Leicester and Celtic player asked for a more determined approach from his players - and it is skipper Brown who has come to the fore.[LNB]The Scotland midfielder scored his first Hoops goal in a year in the 3-1 home win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League last week.[LNB]Lennon, though, was as pleased with Brown's defensive contribution as the Parkhead side were forced to grind out a 1-0 win over Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday, the goal coming from a Robbie Keane penalty after the break.[LNB]"Brown took another big step," the Irishman said.[LNB]"He drove the game for me, he won the ball back when he needed to, battled well, and did all the dirty bits and pieces that some people don't see.[LNB]"But I do - I did it for 20 years.[LNB]"The kid's got a Rolls Royce of an engine, he can get in the box and get the ball back for me.[LNB]"It's now about keeping him ticking over."[LNB]The bandwagon to give Lennon the job on a permanent basis shifted up a gear following the win in Leith which took Celtic back to within 10 points of Rangers at the top of the SPL table.[LNB]The travelling support at Easter Road gave the Irishman a rousing cheer at the end of the game when he went over to applaud them.[LNB]However, with an Active Nation Scottish Cup semi-final against Irn-Bru First Divisions side Ross County to come next Saturday, the former Celtic reserve team boss claims he still has it all to prove.[LNB]"The fans always take to me but listen, it all depends on results," he said.[LNB]"We are not taking anything for granted.[LNB]"Against Hibs I got what I asked for from the players, which was three points.[LNB]"I'm delighted and I think they are pleased with themselves as well."[LNB]Hibs manager John Hughes lost more than three points against Celtic.[LNB]Defender Sol Bamba is set to be hit with a three-match ban after picking up a booking from referee Charlie Richmond after hurling the ball to the ground in a fit of frustration.[LNB]It was the Ivory Coast international's seventh caution of the season and he consequently breached the SFA's disciplinary points limit.[LNB]And as he served a two-game suspension last season he will be out for three matches under the 'totting up' procedure, although he is free to face Hamilton this weekend and whoever Hibs might play in the first round of fixtures following the SPL split.[LNB]Hughes is already without skipper Chris Hogg, who missed Sunday's defeat having suffered a recurrence of a back problem, and Paul Hanlon is currently out with a persistent pelvic injury.[LNB]"What Sol did was really stupid and his absence is definitely going to hamper us with Chris and Paul struggling," the former Hibs defender told the Edinburgh Evening News.[LNB]"I could understand Sol's frustration and it was a pity because I thought he was immense on Sunday, back to his old self."
