Visit to Inverness ‘always a tough ask’ says Neil Lennon

THE prospect of facing Inverness Caledonian Thistle is entitled to give Neil Lennon the shivers. Instead, the Highland side elicit only warmth from the Celtic manager.

The Caledonian Stadium, where Lennon will take his team for their Scottish Cup fifth-round tie this afternoon, has proved a decidedly awkward venue for Celtic over the years. Defeat in the title run-in there last year effectively cost the Glasgow club the championship. And, Inverness’s 2003 Scottish Cup win over an unfamiliar team that Martin O’Neill fielded three days after he had guided his strongest selection for the UEFA Cup ousting of Liverpool is the other cup shock always given an airing when these two sides meet.

These encounters will not dominate Lennon’s thoughts as his team seek to extend their treble hopes into March, but he is sure to be mindful of them. “At any stage of the season and in any competition, Inverness is always a tough ask,” said the Celtic manager whose club will be seeking a 15th straight domestic win.

“But it is a club I admire for how they go about their business. They have improved this season and some of their football has been very good. They have gone on a great run to get out of trouble. They have had no money to spend whatsoever, but have been really clever in the players they have brought in.”

Lennon’s regard takes on a personal slant when it comes to winger Jonny Hayes, who Celtic were linked with in the transfer window, as was true of Dundee United striker Johnny Russell. “We never made any formal inquiry for him. But he’s a player who has improved greatly this season. I like his style and, absolutely, we’ll keep an eye on him, although I don’t want to be accused of talking about another club’s player. What you can say is that I’m an admirer of him and Johnny Russell.”

Hayes, meanwhile, says he is confident Inverness can cause another upset. The winger, whose confidence comes with the justification of a seven-match unbeaten run, said: “The problem with ourselves for a lot of the season was we were conceding sloppy goals. We seem to have rectified that with three clean sheets in the last three [SPL] games. We’re full of confidence that we have solved our problems and confident we can build from the back. We know we’re a team that is always dangerous on the break.”