Source: Team_Talk
Lennon happy with Hoops' character
eil Lennon praised his players for coming from behind for the first time this season in the SPL to beat Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.[LNB] It was Lennon's 13th successive SPL win as Celtic manager - his fifth this season - but it came only after Conor Sammon had given Killie a shock lead after only seven minutes, the first goal the Hoops had conceded in the league.[LNB]The Parkhead men reasserted themselves, however, and just before the break, Anthony Stokes, on for the injured Paddy McCourt, was brought down by Frazer Wright and Daryl Murphy netted the penalty.[LNB]Stokes converted an Emilio Izaguirre cross from close range in the 51st minute for his first goal since signing from Hibernian and in the end the visitors ran out easy winners to keep them at the top of the table alongside Old Firm rivals Rangers.[LNB]The Celtic manager was far from pleased at how his side started the game - but happy at the way they turned it around.[LNB]"We were wasteful in possession early on, and ill-disciplined in our defensive shape at times," he said.[LNB]"The goal was preventable, we got rolled in midfield and Glenn Loovens turned his back and Sammon got across him and tucked it in.[LNB]"Sooner or later we were going to concede a goal and it was the reaction that we were looking for and we got that.[LNB]"I'm delighted that we showed a lot character and as the game wore on, we got stronger and stronger.[LNB]"I thought we totally dominated the second half but it's always difficult to break a team down when they set up defensively like that."[LNB]Lennon had sympathy for McCourt who started for the first time since injuring his neck against Inverness on the opening day of the season, only to come off with a shoulder problem after 21 minutes.[LNB]The former Celtic skipper said: "He felt something go in his shoulder and we have to wait and see how he is tomorrow.[LNB]"It seems to be stop-start for him.[LNB]"Since he's come here it's been one step forward and two steps back.[LNB]"But in the last few weeks he has looked really fit and healthy.[LNB]"It's a blow for him and blow for us and we are hoping it won't be too serious.[LNB]"Hopefully he wont be out for too long because we will miss him."[LNB]Lennon was pleased to see Stokes get off the mark in a Celtic jersey - then explained why he had dropped him.[LNB]"I like his style, he has the hunger to run in behind defenders, he is a fit boy and he will score goals for you," he said.[LNB]"Why did I leave him on the bench? That's a good question. We felt that with James Forrest being out and being away from home, we would put an extra midfielder in.[LNB]"Obviously when Stokes came on he added a bit of danger and he made a difference."[LNB]Stokes was delighted to get off the mark but admits he wanted to take the penalty away from fellow Irishman Murphy.[LNB]The former Hibernian striker said: "I won it and tried to take it. I knew he was on them anyway, but I tried my hand.[LNB]"To be fair he took a great penalty and it's the second of the season so until he misses I will let him have them.[LNB]"It was brilliant to score. At Hibs last year I went four or five games without scoring before I went on a run but at a club like this you need to score as early as possible because you won't get as much game-time.[LNB]"So I was delighted to get off the mark so early but the main thing was three points.[LNB]"We showed some great character and played some good football in the second half and probably should have got a few more."[LNB]Killie boss Mixu Paatelainen had few complaints about the result and refuted suggestions that his side scored too early in the game.[LNB]He said: "It's never too early or late to score. We score one and we go for the second but all credit to Celtic, we were playing against a fantastic team and they put us under pressure[LNB]"But I felt we started fantastically well and it's not often you dominate against the Old Firm, they usually put you under pressure straight away.[LNB]"After we scored we stopped, they pushed us deep but we could have cleared our lines a little bit better.[LNB]"It's another learning experience for the players and hopefully one day you get it right."
