Neil Lennon not giving up on battle to keep Robbie Keane at Celtic

• Keane is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the decisive penalty at Easter Road

Keane's record is now 12 goals in 12 starts since joining Celtic from Tottenham Hotspur just before the transfer window shut at the end of January. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said last month that there was "no way" the Ireland international would be allowed to renew a loan agreement to stay at Parkhead, but Lennon appears to believe the issue is not closed.

"I love the fact he's taken to the fans and the fans have taken to him," the manager said. "Whether we can keep him here, we'll see. We'll keep working at it."

Keane was taken off as a precaution towards the end of his team's hard-fought victory, and Lennon expects him to be able to play in Saturday's Active Nation Scottish Cup semi-final against Ross County. "I was worried about him today – he's got a wee bit of a knee problem and I was thinking do I take him off?

"He can light up a game, change it in a second. He got a few heavy knocks towards the end and we just felt we need him for next week. We need him fit."

Celtic's win means Rangers still need nine points to retain the SPL title, and increases the likelihood that they will not do so before the split. Walter Smith's side must beat Aberdeen on Wednesday and Dundee United next midweek, and also rely on Celtic losing to Motherwell tomorrow week, if they are to become champions again before the final five games.

Although the win by Lennon's team in Edinburgh cut their deficit back to ten points and maintained what faint pressure remains on Rangers, the league race is no more than a technicality, and the manager was more interested in how his players responded to the pressure he put on them to improve.

"I'm more pleased today than I was last week," he said, referring to the 3-1 home win against Kilmarnock, his first game since replacing Tony Mowbray. "Without being brilliant football, I'm pleased with the character my team showed today. My back six – the back four and two midfielders – were outstanding today.

"I thought we dominated the second-half. I would like us to create a few more chances at times, but it's two games into it and I've got to be pleased with a clean sheet away from home.

"At half-time I said 'Back yourselves now', and in the second-half I thought (Marc-Antoine] Fortune took the game to Hibs and stretched the game for us. Apart from Derek Riordan hitting the bar second-half I think we nullified Hibs. With a wee bit more quality in the final third we could have had more goals.

"We've got a very young back four. Darren O'Dea is back to where he was a couple of years ago in terms of his consistency, his composure and defending. He's bringing Josh Thompson along with him at the minute. He's a good talker and he leads the back four well.

"Scott Brown drove the game. He got the ball back when we needed to, battled well, did all the dirty bits and pieces that some people don't see but I do. I know – I did it for 20 f***ing years. He's got a Rolls Royce of an engine."

O'Dea repaid the compliment by backing Lennon to remain as Celtic manager longer than this season. "He's got such a passion for the club," the centre-half said. "Everyone here does have a passion for the club – I just think he's bringing (it] out now. There's a real fight about the team. I think all the lads have responded well. Everyone knows Lennie very well and knows what he's about. He's been great since he came in and everyone's really enjoyed working for him, so I don't see why he couldn't take the job long-term."

On the victory, O'Dea added: "It was probably horrible to watch but a good team needs to come to these places and win at any cost and that's what we did. It wasn't pretty at times but we won and we haven't done that enough this season."