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Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 1
Apr 21, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
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FT

Neil Lennon looking forward to Hibs return

Neil Lennon looking forward to Hibs return
© Reuters
The Northern Irishman left Hibs in January.

Neil Lennon believes Celtic are starting to play with the freedom he is looking for as he prepares for the trip to Edinburgh to face Hibernian on Sunday.

The Northern Irish boss left Hibs in January and was handed the Hoops job until the end of the season the following month after Brendan Rodgers suddenly left for Leicester.

Last week's comprehensive 3-0 William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen at Hampden Park made it eight games unbeaten since the former Celtic captain took over for a second time at the Parkhead club, who are on the cusp of an unprecedented domestic triple treble.

Rangers' 3-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday lunchtime took them eight points behind their Old Firm rivals at the top of the table but Lennon is pleased with the progress his side have made and is looking to continue it at Easter Road to take another step towards the title.

He said: "I'm looking forward to it. Hibs are in great form and they are buoyed by a deserved win at Tynecastle.

"It's been quite a while coming so I'm delighted for the Hibs public.

"But we are coming into the game knowing what our motivation is and that is to win and try to win well off the back of a very convincing semi-final performance last week.

"Psychologically the boys are in a good place and we need to maintain it. It takes time and it took time for me to get to know the players and vice versa.

"We are starting to see signs of improvement and the freedom in the way I want them to play.

"It was a pressure game last Sunday and the players negotiated it brilliantly, so I'm looking for more this Sunday."

Lennon admits he is more relaxed about the role than he was when he first took over from Rodgers.

He said: "I am enjoying it a little bit more now. The first few weeks were tumultuous and very high pressure and I was under a lot of scrutiny.

"You are getting judged for everything you do. But I am older and more experienced in dealing with that so I am enjoying it more now."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
CCeltic550095306593
2RangersRangers531187325585
3Hearts513154421268
4Kilmarnock51224644256
5St Mirren51134652-647
6Dundee50144968-1942
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen54104852-448
2Hibernian52125259-746
3Motherwell52035659-343
4St Johnstone51132954-2535
5Ross County51223867-2935
RLivingston52122970-4125
 
First Phase
CCeltic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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