Neil Lennon lauds 'more settled' Odsonne Edouard after Celtic striker sets personal record with match-winning double against St Johnstone
Two smart finishes in three minutes from the Frenchman around the hour mark turned the Perth encounter that had seemed to be going away from Lennon’s men when Shaun Rooney headed the home side in front 50 minutes in.
And the Celtic manager did not deny that Edouard’s restored match-winning abilities – he now has 20 goals for the season and has scored in six consecutive games for the first time in his three-and-a-half years in Glasgow – are the product of the early campaign fog having appeared to clear from the 23-year-old’s head.
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Hide Ad“He just seems a lot more settled,” said Lennon of what has resulted in the forward firing as he did a year ago, before desiring a move last summer. “I think there were a lot of things on his mind in the first half of the season. He has really found his form now and we’re delighted because he makes us better. That’s the sort of form he was showing this time last season. It augurs well for between now and the end of the season. He is in great goalscoring form but I was pleased with his all-round performance. His physicality was back today, his running was better and certainly his technique on the ball was very good.”
Celtic’s ability to extricate themselves from a tight spot to ensure they have a chance to move within 15 points of Rangers when they contest their game-in-hand against Aberdeen at home on Wednesday, was evidence from Lennon that his squad are not giving up the ghost in a forlorn campaign.
“I think there is a team spirit and they are all playing for each other,” he said of shaking off the early second-half setback. “We have had a really good reaction to the defeat against St Mirren [two weeks ago]. That’s four wins on the bounce. Although we are a long way back we just need to keep working away at the performances.”