Neil Lennon starts SPL campaign with another Highland fling

NEIL Lennon will begin his tenure for real in the Highlands and will pray for a better outcome than his first encounter with a team from the same area when a lowly managerial intern.

The new Celtic manager leads his team to take on newly promoted Inverness Caledonian Thistle on the first weekend of the new season, evoking memories of the result which at one time had looked to have ended his chances of being appointed to the permanent post at Parkhead.

The 2-0 defeat to Ross County in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup can now be seen to have been the making of the man. Lennon reacted impressively to one of the worst results in the club's history and won each league match afterwards, as well as the two which preceded it. But the pressure is firmly on the inexperienced Lennon next season as he attempts to wrestle the league championship away from Rangers, who begin with a more straightforward looking home fixture. Walter Smith's side will raise the title flag before a fixture against Kilmarnock, who are still in the process of naming a new manager. The last time these sides met on the opening day – at the start of the 2003-04 campaign – Rangers won 4-0. The Ibrox side return to the scene of last season's title win as early as the second game of the season, when they travel to play Hibernian at the new-look Easter Road.

Lennon will be desperate not to be trailing Rangers by then, but has been handed a tricky first fixture against Terry Butcher's side. Inverness took the First Division by storm after Christmas last year, and blew rivals Dundee away with a run of nine successive victories at the end of the season.

"It's an exciting opening day fixture and the unfurling of our First Division championship flag will make the occasion even greater," said defender Grant Munro yesterday. "Opening day games are usually nail-biting affairs and against such good opposition as Celtic the stage is set for a thriller as we bid to rack up our first points. Terry Butcher will also be looking to start with a win. The unveiling of the fixtures has our lads buzzing as it really brings it home that we're back in the top flight – and I'm sure our fans will get the same buzz."

Lennon has already suffered at the hands of Inverness. He was in the Celtic team which was defeated by the then First Division team in the Scottish Cup March 2003, just days after Martin O'Neill's team had recorded a famous Uefa Cup tie win at Anfield against Liverpool. Similarly, any meeting of these two teams brings back memories of the 3-1 victory for Inverness in another Scottish Cup tie, this time at Parkhead. This result, in February 1999, led to the dismissal of John Barnes, and paved the way for the arrival of O'Neill – and Lennon. The midfielder joined the club later that year and helped encourage an about-turn in fortunes. Now, in the role of manager, he is attempting to inspire a similar revival after a season which saw Celtic struggle on all fronts. After kicking-off against Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium, the home supporters have another chance to offer a resounding reception to Lennon at Celtic Park, where Celtic will entertain St Mirren on the second weekend of the season.

But, inevitably, the focus falls on the clashes between Celtic and Rangers, with the title having been claimed by one of these two sides for the previous 25 seasons. Although Celtic lagged behind Rangers for much of the last campaign, they trailed the eventual champions by just six points at the end. It could be argued, then, that the championship was won and lost over four Old Firm clashes, during which Rangers – helped by two critical victories in the first and third derbies of the season – gathered seven out of 12 points. Next season, the first Old Firm clash is pencilled in for 23 October at Celtic Park. This is followed by the first New Year's day clash between the teams since 1994, although this could yet be changed due to live television demands. The last meeting before the split takes place at Celtic Park on 19 February, meaning the final Old Firm clash of the campaign will be at Ibrox.

Both Lennon and his opposite number Walter Smith will aim to be in the thick of the title race by then, although there are the usual hopes that a third and perhaps even fourth force could present a challenge to this pair of familiar title challengers.

These hopes have been kindled by the financial hardship currently being endured by Rangers at least, although the Ibrox side excelled at triumphing in adversity last season. Dundee United finished third in May, helped by an away record which saw them lose only twice, and will strive to push the Old Firm all the way this time around. So, too, will Hibernian, whose strong start last season gave way to a bitterly disappointing closing four months. John Hughes' team start off away to Motherwell, scene of the most remarkable SPL match of last season. That 6-6 draw in May helped Hibs fall over the line in fourth place.

"It obviously has that bit of added spice given that famous last match between the sides," said Motherwell manager Craig Brown, whose side nevertheless joined Hibs in qualifying for the Europa League.

Hearts, meanwhile, entertain St Johnstone on the first weekend. But Edinburgh eyes will be fixed on New Year's Day, when Hearts are scheduled to meet Hibs at Tynecastle and Gorgie is due to shake.