Lennon: 'We won't celebrate for a week if we beat Celtic'

Hibernian players will not 'celebrate for a week like they used to' if they beat Celtic on staurday, according to boss Neil Lennon; who has praised the improved mentality of his players, who now see themselves as able to compete with the likes of Celtic in the SPFL. 

'Hibs' more than matched the current Scottish Champions last season, taking five points off Brendan Rodgers side, including an impressive 2-2 draw at Celtic Park. 

Ahead of the big clash this weekend, manager Neil Lennon was full of praise for his side, saying: "If we go there and get a positive result we'll take it and move on, not dwell on it. We want to be in a position where we go to the big clubs and we perform and get positive results, we come away and say 'good result, now on to the next game'. That's all it is."

Lennon explained: ""Psychologically, the mentality of the club has changed a lot since the Scottish Cup win [in 2016] and it's been a steady progression forward. We're not complacent. It's nice to have plaudits but we're not taking anything for granted."

However, boss Lennon was under no illusions that his side face a tough test when they come face to face with his former club this weekend, saying: "It's always a daunting proposition when you go to Celtic. This team have got players who've won seven titles in a row, played international football and Champions League football. They didn't look in trouble last time out at St Johnstone, they were devastating and that's what they can do to you."

Since falling to defeat at Livingston, Hibernian have won four consecutive games, and manager Lennon has encouraged his squad to "play with belief".

Lennon was keen to stress that this game should be looked forward to rather than feared, saying: "I think the players should relish it. You want to test yourself and measure yourself up against the best players.n terms of motivating, I won't need much, it will just need a bit of concentration and a bit of calmness to see out the bad moments."