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Celtic boss Neil Lennon delighted with "outstanding" Hamilton win

Celtic boss Neil Lennon delighted with
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Hamilton were without 10 players through either injury or Covid-19 but held the Hoops to a goalless first half.

Neil Lennon welcomed the flamboyance in Celtic's play as his side's return to form continued with a 3-0 Premiership win at Hamilton.

Accies were without 10 players through either injury or Covid-19, but on a wet and windy Boxing Day in Lanarkshire, they held the Hoops to a goalless first half.

However, striker Odsonne Edouard scored a penalty he won four minutes after the restart before Leigh Griffiths and David Turnbull added further goals to make it five wins in a row, albeit the William Hill Scottish Cup final win over Hearts was on penalties.

Boss Lennon said: "I thought we were outstanding. We could have had two or three in the first half.

"The attitude and the approach from the players in dreadful conditions on a plastic pitch was outstanding.

"It was the best we have played for a while, the body language of the players was excellent so it was a great day for us and a great three points.

"We are looking a lot more like ourselves. I want us to play well like that.

"I want us to create chances and there was more flamboyance today than there has been for quite a while and more freedom in our play as well."

Celtic remain 16 points behind Rangers at the top of the Premiership with three games in hand and play Dundee United on Wednesday before a trip to Ibrox on January 2.

Lennon said: "There's a long way to go. I'm not saying we have turned a corner, but we are starting to do the right things a lot more of the time.

"We are staring to do it better and that comes from attitude, application and confidence.

"There is a lot more zest, a lot more fluency about the way we are playing.

"I am delighted. It could have been a very difficult game but we made it look easy – which it wasn't.

"There is a lot to be encouraged about but we still have a lot of work to do."

Hamilton boss Brian Rice was not best pleased by referee Don Robertson's decision to award Celtic a penalty just after the restart for Accies defender Aaron Martin's tackle on Edouard.

He said: "It is the season for presents, isn't it?

"The penalty kick, in my opinion, was very soft. But hey-ho, the referee gives it.

"I don't think we switched off, I just think it was a soft decision and it changed the game.

"Celtic have that goal lead, they keep the ball a bit better and we found it difficult.

"But we hung in and I can't fault them. Their effort was magnificent."

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How you voted: Hamilton vs Celtic

Hamilton Academical
9.5%
Draw
9.5%
Celtic
81.0%
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Rangers celebrate Scott Arfield's goal against Standard Liege in the Europa League on December 3, 2020
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1RangersRangers2119205655159
2Celtic18134145143143
3Aberdeen1911532718938
4Hibernian21106530201036
5Dundee UnitedDundee Utd216781727-1025
6Livingston197392226-424
7St Mirren186391421-721
8Kilmarnock2062122125-420
9St Johnstone2146111830-1218
10Motherwell1945101728-1117
11Ross County2144131238-2616
12Hamilton AcademicalHamilton2043131845-2715

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