Neil Lennon holds tight to core Celtic squad in hope of ninth successive title

Although Celtic had to bow to financial reality by selling Kieran Tierney to Arsenal for a Scottish record fee of £25 million, Neil Lennon resolved to hold tight to the core of his squad for his bid to steer the Hoops to a ninth successive title. Callum McGregor was the subject of interest from Leicester City but the midfielder remains on the books for the time being, as do the central defensive pair of Jozo Simunovic and Kris Ajer.

Simunovic did not play against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday because of suspension and he was another who found himself to be a topic of transfer speculation. “There was interest but it dissipated and I don’t want him to go,” Lennon said. “He is really good player.

“With the competition he had here from Dedryck Boyata and Felip Benkovic, he didn’t play a lot but when I came in, I thought, ‘He looks a really good defender’ - comfortable, takes the ball out, scores really important goals as well and is a threat in the opposition box.

“I didn’t realise how good Jozo was until I saw him playing and Kris was very consistent anyway, so the more they played together the happier I was. With Jozo you have to be mindful of his historical knee issue.

“His training patterns are sort of constricted, you have to look after him and just make sure he is fit to play the games, but they are a good partnership as they were at the end of last season and the two of them have continued in the same vein.

“Kris has played almost every minute since I have come in. I think he is an outstanding talent who will only get better and Jozo is what you would call a proper centre half. He wants to head. He is a man, really tough uncompromising. We will see more of that as we go on.

“It is a big compliment to the two to the two guys that I haven’t had to play Christopher. It is good to have that strength in what is a really important area. With Jozo, it is going to be difficult to play three times in the week.

“There is a continuity that has been carried on and a familiar one. Christopher Jullien will get up to speed as we go on. We know what we have got with him.”

Jullien made his debut in Celtic’s 5-2 victory at Fir Park, although there was a torrid opening for the champions when defensive negligence allowed Liam Donnelly to shoot through a gap between Scott Bain and his near post. Ajer, though, equalised almost immediately with a low angled drive after he exchanged passes with James Forrest.

Leigh Griffiths confirmed his effective return after missing the second half of last season when he took advantage of faulty positioning by Mark Gillespie at a free kick out to beat the Motherwell goalkeeper from 25 yards. Having taking the comfort of a lead in to the dressing room at half-time, Celtic changed gear after the restart.

Midway through the second half, Forrest doubled Celtic’s advantage when he rifled home from close range despite the proximity of two Motherwell defenders. Odsonne Edouard added another in similar circumstances in the 75th minute and Ryan Christie got Celtic’s fifth from the penalty spot after Edoaurd had been fouled by Donnelly, who partially redeemed himself with a goal from a late corner kick.

Lennon was predictably satisfied with the performance, with one reservation. “My only criticism would be of the way we approached the game initially,” he said. “In the first 15 minutes there were a few bad habits creeping in that we want to eradicate.

“We were inviting pressure we didn’t need. Once we solved that we were outstanding, especially to score five after the quick turnaround from Wednesday night, with five different scorers. Second half, we were magnificent. That’s 12 goals in two league games - I can't ask for any more than that.”

The combativeness didn’t end with the final whistle, though. Long after the game had finished, an altercation between Celtic winger Scott Sinclair and a Fir Park groundsman had to be broken up by the Motherwell chief executive, Alan Burrows.

Elsewhere, St Johnstone’s miserable start continued at home to Livingston, who went 2-0 up through Scott Pittman and Stevie Lawless, but Matty Kennedy and Callum Hendry ensured a draw. Hearts and Ross County also split the points at Tynecastle, where Brian Graham hit the post when the Staggies were awarded a penalty kick.

Kilmarnock’s woes under Angelo Alessio continued when they lost 2-0 at Hamilton - where the scorers were Lewis Smith and George Oakley – despite the home side being reduced to 10 men when Brian Easton was dism