Celtic on this Day – Two decent wins for Neil Lennon and Martin O’Neill

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The Celtic Star

·10 November 2024

Celtic on this Day – Two decent wins for Neil Lennon and Martin O’Neill

Two routine league victories were secured On This Day in 2019 at Celtic Park and in 2002 at Tannadice…

Scott Brown, Celtic v Motherwell, 10 November 2019. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Odsonne Edouard, Celtic v Motherwell, 10 November 2019. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

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10 November 2019, Celtic 2-0 Motherwell

Neil Lennon’s side made it 10 wins from 12 in the Scottish Premiership. Despite the Hoops impressively winning at Ibrox 2-0 at the beginning of September, Celtic only remained one goal ahead of Steven Gerrard’s side a third of the season through. Lennon’s men had just come off the back of a famous win in Rome three days prior against Lazio. The Celts created history by becoming the first Hoops side to have ever won on Italian soil thanks to an Olivier Ntcham last-gasp winner which sealed qualification to the knockout stages.

Celtic v Motherwell, 10 November 2019. Photo The Celtic Star

Odsonne Edouard netted his 13th goal of the season, and the games opener versus Motherwell. The Frenchman was unstoppable during the 2019/2020 campaign, and it was undoubtedly French Eddy’s most spectacular time during his three-year spell in Glasgow.

Although Stephen Robinson’s side remained relatively compact and hard to break down, Well defender Richard Tait smashed the ball into his own net after an inviting cross from Jonny Hayes. That clinched the points for Celtic who suffered no European hangover.

Post-match Celtic boss Neil Lennon said, “It’s another fantastic performance after Thursday. Since the Livingston defeat, we’ve won all our games in all competitions so the response has been magnificent.”

Celtic starting XI five years ago today; Forster, Frimpong, Jullien, Ajer, Hayes, Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Ntcham, Elyounoussi, Edouard.

10 November 2002, Dundee United 0-2 Celtic

10/11/02 SPL Dundee Utd 0-2 Celtic – Chris Sutton (left) celebrates after clinching the points for Celtic with the late second goal. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Despite an early league defeat at Fir Park earlier in the season, Martin O’Neill’s Scottish champions had been in glittering domestic form ever since. Preparing to face Blackburn Rovers in the 2nd leg of their UEFA Cup second round tie at Eewood Park four days later, O’Neill possibly had one eye on the European clash with Graeme Souness’ Premier League outfit when heading to Tannadice.

Two headed finishes secured an important league victory for O’Neill. Firstly from John Hartson who used his strength to guide the ball into the net after an expert delivery from Steve Guppy.

Two minutes from time, Alan Thompson’s cross duly laid it on a plate for the onrushing Chris Sutton who gave Tangerine goalkeeper Paul Gallagher no chance with his perfect header. The win meant Celtic trailed Rangers by a point at the top of the table where the two sides would crucially face each other for the second time of the season at Ibrox at the start of December.