Neil Lennon heaps praise on players after Ibrox victory

Neil Lennon heaped praise on his players after yesterday’s victory over Rangers at Ibrox.

The result was even more impressive considering Hibs’ hectic schedule of five games in 13 days, including away games at Celtic, Hearts and Rangers and the fact that several key players such as captain David Gray, Paul Hanlon, Darren McGregor, Vykintas Slivka and Steven Whittaker missed the game due to injury.

In addition top scorers Simon Murray and Anthony Stokes left the club during the January transfer window.

Things even got worse for Lennon in the opening minutes when Brandon Barker had to leave the field with a knock.

Despite that, Hibs took the lead with a fantastic solo effort from John McGinn then overcame the disappointment of a Rangers equaliser with a penalty winner from Jamie MacLaren.

Hibs remain in fourth place, two points behind Rangers.

After the game a delighted Lennon told Cliff Pike of Hibernian TV:”All the plaudits go to the players. This is our fifth game in 13 days and we are decimated with injuries. I couldn’t have asked for any more. They were fantastic. The football the played in the first half was pretty special. we could have been two or three up.

“We are also putting square pegs in round holes. we have Lewis playing left centre back, John (McGinn) playing wing back and Boyler (Martin Boyle) also playing wing back.

“We had to withstand pressure but that was fatigue more than anything else. My goalkeeper was outstanding as well.

“In those five games we have played Hearts Rangers and Celtic away from home and we have won three out of four in the league and that’s tremendous.

“They are playing some brilliant football. I don’t think we got what we deserved against Celtic last week. We had a great result on Wednesday night but this is the icing on the cake for me.

“This team are pretty special for this club at the minute. They are doing wonders.

“The support today was amazing.

“John’s goal was brilliant. Gary (Parker) came in and told me that John was lashing them in during the warm up so I fancied him to score today.

“He was back to his best today so that puts another million pounds onto his price tag.

“I thought Scott (Allan) had a superb game today. You saw the old Scott Allan and that will do him the world of good. His fitness was good but he craped up at the end and that was understandable. His is one of those players who buys himself time with his ability and football intelligence. He has to maintain that and that is his marker.

“In the first half he was unplayable.

“Young MacLaren was cool. He took the responsibility for the penalty and smashed it in and writes his name down in the history books.”