Celtic boss Neil Lennon on his half-time team-talk yesterday

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has opened up on the half-time team-talk that inspired his troops to hammer Ross County yesterday.

The Hoops went into the break yesterday 1-0 ahead. They only had a Mohamed Elyounoussi strike on four minutes to show for their efforts. That was despite the fact they created a host of chances to put the game beyond doubt.

However, County weren’t to get away with anything in the second-half. Four goals in nine minutes put us in cruise control, before Elyounoussi rounded off the scoring late on with a sixth.

Lenny was delighted with the performance all-round from the Hoops. And speaking to Celtic TV, he touched on how he goaded his players into a reaction.

“Just everything about it, it was the most complete performance we’ve had since I got here. I thought, first 45 minutes it was as great attacking football as I’d seen from us for a long time.

“I asked them at half-time ‘are you gonna be a nice team? Or are you going to be ruthless?’ They answered me in spades. That volley of goals just after half-time was a response to the challenge I threw down to them.

“The first half I thought we were magnificent as well. The goalkeeper made a couple of magnificent saves point-blank. I said at half-time ‘I’m thrilled with that performance. What’s missing?’ and they said ‘goals’. I said ‘well, bring it on then'”.

Celtic issued the response they needed to

Credit to Lennon and Celtic for what was a top display yesterday. After dropping five points to Hibernian and Livingston respectively, we needed that result.

The Hoops were top class, and bossed the game for the entire 90 minutes. County ended the game with just one shot on target – a sign of the dominance Celtic had over them.

But, in fairness to us, the football played by the team didn’t just equal a 45-minute show. Celtic were by far the better side for 90 minutes, and created chance after chance throughout the entire contest. However, a lack of cutting edge at times allowed County to stay in the game.

Celtic haven’t received enough praise for their second-half goal blitz either. Scoring four goals within the first 10 minutes or so of the second half is incredible. It showed the hunger in the team to regain top spot.

But, as well as that, it also piles the pressure on Rangers to perform today. Our league rivals travel to Tynecastle to take on a sorry looking Hearts. But Hibs proved several weeks ago that shocks do happen. And Celtic, having rattled home six goals yesterday, have laid down their intentions to get their spot back.

In perhaps more satisfying fashion too, it all came about thanks to a Neil Lennon team-talk.