Ibrox elation, Lazio glory and quadruple treble joy: The 10 greatest wins of Neil Lennon's second Celtic reign

1

Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

Competition: Premiership.

Venue: Tynecastle.

Result: Hearts 1 – 2 Celtic. 

Neil Lennon’s second spell as Celtic manager got underway in a positive fashion with a hard-fought win over Hearts at Tynecastle.

A first-half James Forrest goal was cancelled out by an Oliver Bozanic penalty in the second, but Odsonne Edouard volleyed home in the second minute of injury-time to secure the three points.

2

Date: Thursday, August 29, 2019.

Competition: Europa League, play-off.

Venue: Friends Arena.

Result: AIK Solna 1–4 Celtic (Celtic win 6-1 on aggregate).

After being beaten by Cluj of Romania in a Champions League qualifier at home, Celtic desperately needed to win this double header against AIK of Sweden.

They did so comfortably. After a 2-0 triumph at home they thrashed their opponents in Stockholm. Goals from James Forrest, Mikey Johnston, Christopher Jullien and Odsonne Edouard saw them book their spot in the group stages.  

3

Date: Sunday, March 31, 2019.

Competition: Premiership.

Venue: Celtic Park.

Result: Celtic 2 – 1 Rangers.

This was the first Old Firm match that Neil Lennon had been involved in since replacing Brendan Rodgers as manager.

Odsonne Edouard put his side in front in the first-half and when opposition striker Alfredo Morelos was sent off for aiming a swipe at Scott Brown things looked ominous for Steven Gerrard’s men. 

But Rangers winger Ryan Kent equalised after half-time only for James Forrest to grab the winner with four minutes remaining after a James Tavernier mistake.

There was a rammy on the park following the final whistle – with Brown at the heart of it.

4

Date: Saturday, May 25, 2019.

Competition: Scottish Cup, final.

Venue: Hampden. 

Result: Hearts 1- 2 Celtic.

Neil Lennon’s men were the overwhelming favourites to win this game and complete their third consecutive treble and they duly did so.

But Crag Levein’s charges, who took the lead through Ryan Edwards early in the second-half, made them work for it.

Odsonne Edouard restored parity from the penalty spot after being brought down by goalkeeper Bobby Zlamal and then clinched it with a goal from open play with eight minutes remaining.

5

Date: Sunday, September 1, 2019.

Competition: Premiership. 

Venue: Ibrox.

Result: Rangers 0–2 Celtic.

Scott Brown and his team mates ended the 12 game unbeaten run their city rivals had been on after producing a dominant display in Govan.

They took control of proceedings from kick-off and took the lead after a careless Connor Goldson pass when Odsonne Edouard slotted beyond Allan McGregor in the 32nd minute.

Substitute Jonny Hayes wrapped up what was an unexpected but richly deserved triumph in the third minute of injury-time to send the visitors three points clear at the top of the table.

6

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2019.

Competition: Europa League, group stages.

Venue: Celtic Park.

Result:  Celtic 2–1 Lazio.

The treble treble winners fell behind to a Manuel Lazzari goal just before half-time in this Group E encounter – then staged a gutsy second-half fightback to triumph.

Ryan Christie capitalised on a defensive mistake to level in the second-half - and then Christopher Jullien got on the end of a corner from the playmaker to level with one minute of regulation time remaining.

7

Date: Thursday, November 7, 2019.

Competition: Europa League, group stages.

Venue: Stadio Olimpico

Result:  Lazio 1–Celtic 2.

Falling behind to a goal from Ciro Immobile in just the seventh minute was the worst possible start that Celtic could have made.

However, they staged a fightback against their Serie A rivals for the second time in a fortnight and recorded their first ever victory on Italian soil.

James Forrest equalised and then substitute Olivier Ntcham dinked over Thomas Strakosha in the fifth minute of injury-time to send the away support in Rome into dreamland and book a place in the last 32.

8

Date: Sunday, December 8, 2019.

Competition: Betfred Cup, final.

Venue: Hampden.

Result: Rangers 0–1 Celtic. 

NEIL Lennon won his third trophy in a row when Celtic edged out Rangers in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden.

His side, who were unable to field a specialist striker from the start and played Lewis Morgan up front, took an absolute battering.

But Fraser Forster denied Alfredo Morelos time after time, including at a second-half penalty, and Christopher Jullien scored what proved to be the winner on the hour mark. 

9

Date: Sunday, February 16, 2020.

Competition: Premiership.

Venue: Pittodrie.

Result:  Aberdeen 1 –2 Celtic.

Neil Lennon’s men responded well to the defeat they had suffered to Rangers at Parkhead at the end of December by going on a 13 game unbeaten run in all competitions and sewing up their ninth consecutive Scottish title.

This win was one of the most important – Callum McGregor put the visitors in front, Ash Taylor equalised for the home team and then Kristoffer Ajer ran the length of the park to net the wnner with nine minutes remaining.

10

Date: Sunday, December 20, 2020.

Competition: Scottish Cup, final.

Venue: Hampden.

Result:  Celtic 3–3 Hearts (Celtic win 4-3 on penalties).

The 2019/20 Scottish Cup took seven months longer than expected to complete due to the Covid-19 outbreak – but it was decided by a classic when it was.

Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard put the holders 2-0 ahead in the first-half only for Liam Boyce and Stephen Kingsley to level in the second. In extra-time, Leigh Grffiths netted ony for Josh Ginnelly to make it 3-3.

It went to penalties and Kristoffer Ajer clinched the quadruple treble after Conor Hazard had saved spot kicks from Kingsley and Craig Wighton.

Lennon became the first man to complete a clean sweep of domestic silverware in the same season as both a player and a manager.