WE'VE GOT A POINT TO PROVE

Neil Lennon wants his side to eradicate the errors which have affected them this season and to now go on a winning run

TONY CONNELLY

DIEGO Laxalt’s late goal at Easter Road snatched a point for the champions, but it was still a disappointing result from Neil Lennon’s perspective. The Celtic manager was left frustrated after the 2-2 draw and insisted that the team needs to find a level of consistency in performance and results going into a busy schedule of games.

A trip to the capital was always going to be a tough one following the international break, although Jack Ross’ side rarely threatened Celtic in the first half. However, they were gifted the lead shortly after the break when Scott Brown was penalised for a challenge on Martin Boyle inside the box. Scott Bain saved the penalty but Jamie Murphy pounced first to slot home the rebound.

Celtic’s woes intensified less than 10 minutes later when Murphy flicked a header on to Kevin Nisbet down the left channel, and the striker tucked away the chance.

Despite the deficit, or perhaps because of it, Celtic were galvanised into action, the manager made some personnel and tactical changes, and the Hoops pressed forward in search of a way back into the game.

Odsonne Edouard converted a penalty after Paul McGinn was penalised for handball inside the area, before Laxalt scored his first goal in Celtic colours, blasting an unstoppable left-foot shot into the roof of the net to give his side a share of the spoils.

The Uruguayan’s goal rescued an unlike point for the champions but Neil Lennon felt his side should not have put themselves in that position in the first place.

“The two goals we gave away were awful,” the manager said. “Scott Bain made a save from the penalty but none of our boys followed in. And the second goal was just lazy in not tracking the runner.

“We don’t do the dirty bits well enough and we need to get rid of that softness because teams are highly motivated against us. We have to respect that. We are not doing the nuts and bolts anywhere near well enough.

“There’s a softness about us defensively that we have got to eradicate. Again, I’ve had to change the shape to get us back into the game,” he added. “The subs did fine but we were too passive in the final third in the first half even though we controlled the game.