Hibs boss Neil Lennon aims to delay Celtic title party

NEIL LENNON may have set Celtic’s ball rolling towards seven in a row but the Hibernian boss is desperate to avoid playing a part in their latest title bash.

Celtic won three league crowns during the Northern Irishman’s spell in charge at Parkhead, with successors Ronny Deila and Brendan Rodgers adding to that reign of dominance.

Now the all-conquering Hoops, buoyed by Sunday’s 4-0 drubbing of Rangers, can secure a seventh straight championship with a win at Easter Road on Saturday.

But Lennon is determined to spoil the party.

“I’m apprehensive, as you normally are when you face Celtic,” he said. “We’ve done OK against them this season but we’ve not beaten them yet as that’s a very hard thing to do.

“And when they are playing in full flow as you all saw on Sunday they are an excellent side.

“They are going to win the league – it’s just a question of when.

“But can I treat it as any other game? Yeah. I’ve got my priorities. With Kilmarnock only four points behind us and Aberdeen and Rangers three points ahead, it’s important I focus on my club.

“Yeah we’re playing Celtic and I’ve seen many title celebrations before, but I don’t want that to happen on Saturday.

“If that’s the case it means we’ve been beaten and I don’t want that to happen.”

Cynics have suggested the champions-elect might take their foot off the gas in Leith in order to delay the title-clincher until next week’s Old Firm clash at Celtic Park.

But Lennon said: “I think if you’re in Brendan’s shoes, you’d want to win it as soon as possible because there’s no guarantees of winning the title (next week either).

“But if they play to the level they showed last week then it’s going to take a mighty performance to stop them.”

The Hibs faithful will have watched with glee over the weekend as second-place rivals Aberdeen and Rangers both suffered painful Hampden meltdowns.

Derek McInnes promised a summer clear-out at Pittodrie after seeing his Dons side run ragged by Motherwell in the opening William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final, while Rangers have appeared in disarray in the wake of Sunday’s derby disappointment. Club captain Lee Wallace and veteran striker Kenny Miller were suspended amid claims they undermined manager Graeme Murty in the dressing room afterwards.

But Lennon is refusing to write off Hibs’ Europa League rivals.

He said: “Aberdeen have been there and done it. They’ve had a few adverse results but always seem to bounce back. They know how to get it done at this stage of the season.

“Rangers have obviously had a tumultuous week but I think everybody just needs to calm down a bit. Probably the best thing their players could do at this point is to get out, play and show they’re good enough to play for a club like that.

“I’d still say Aberdeen and Rangers are the teams to catch – and I’m certainly not saying we will.

“I think we’ll need to win four games to finish second and, starting on Saturday, that’ll be a tall order.”