Source: Team_Talk
Lennon relieved by Hoops success
eil Lennon admitted relief was the overriding emotion as his first game in charge of Celtic ended with a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead.[LNB] The Irishman moved up from reserve team manager to replace Tony Mowbray who left the club following the Hoops' 4-0 defeat at St Mirren on Wednesday night, and he could not have wished for a better start to his managerial career.[LNB]A Robbie Keane double, taking his tally to 11 in 11 games since arriving on loan from Tottenham in January, and a Scott Brown strike made it a memorable day for the former Celtic captain, despite his team remaining 10 points behind leaders Rangers having played two games more.[LNB]Lennon said: "I spoke to (Norwich boss and former Celtic midfielder) Paul Lambert last night and he said the only emotion you will feel at the end is relief and that's what it was basically, it's relief that it's over.[LNB]"I really enjoyed the reception I received from the fans, it was tremendous but once the game began I was totally engrossed.[LNB]"I asked for a reaction and I got one. I'm thrilled that we won and played in the manner that befits the club.[LNB]"I enjoyed large parts of the game but obviously if we had drawn or got beat I would have been devastated.[LNB]Lennon added: "It was a pretty good team performance and defensively I got what I asked for and I really enjoyed watching the attacking players today.[LNB]"Keane's was a wonderful goal to get us going. (Aiden) McGeady was unplayable in the second half, (Georgios) Samaras was the best I've seen him, and (Marc-Antoine) Fortune worked his socks off all day."[LNB]Keane admits the players felt they needed to make amends to the Celtic supporters for the defeat at Paisley.[LNB]"Wednesday night wasn't good enough, it is as simple as that," he said.[LNB]"You can talk about this that and the other but as players it wasn't good enough and we had to accept that.[LNB]"Of course (we owed the fans a debt). Big time. Obviously the supporters are as disappointed as much as we are, there is no one in that dressing room who likes losing game."[LNB]The Republic of Ireland striker, however, admits that he has become used to accept managerial changeover.[LNB]"It has been a difficult week for everybody," he said.[LNB]"I have a lot of respect for Tony and his coaching staff and I really enjoyed working with them.[LNB]"Unfortunately I have been in this situation before. I have seen changes and as players you have to be professional and get on with it."[LNB]Jimmy Calderwood, whose side remain second bottom above Falkirk, feared an even bigger defeat at one stage in the one-sided game.[LNB]"I felt we were very poor," the Killie boss said.[LNB]"We have lost five on the trot and so we tried to attack but it didn't work for us.[LNB]"There was a fear factor because of our results in recent weeks.[LNB]"I was looking at the goal average at one point and we were lucky to get away with 3-1.[LNB]"I would hope we would not be involved in the relegation battle but if we don't start playing better then we will be."
