LENNON DELIGHT AS CELTIC COMPLETE 'BRILLIANT WEEK' WITH ABERDEEN MAULING
Neil Lennon spoke of a "brilliant week" for Celtic following their 4-0 Ladbrokes Premiership hammering of Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The Hoops went into the game on the back of a dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Lazio on Thursday night which followed a 6-0 thrashing of Ross County, and they remained on top form as they dismantled a dismal Dons side
Odsonne Edouard struck in the 10th minute before 18-year-old right-back Jeremie Frimpong made it 2-0 five minutes later with his first Hoops goal in his first away match since signing from Manchester City in September.
Further first-half strikes from James Forrest and Mohamed Elyounoussi had the points secured by the interval and the Parkhead manager could hardly have been happier.
"We've had a brilliant week," said Lennon.
"That's 10 goals in the league and a fantastic win against Lazio.
"Mentally and physically it could have been draining for them but they recovered brilliantly and played some outstanding, collective team football.
"We were red hot today, absolutely red hot.
"It is just outstanding football, outstanding control or the game. We were magnificent. you can't ask any more."
Lennon, who revealed defender Christopher Jullien came off at half-time due to a virus but should be fit for Wednesday's game against St Mirren, added: "I thought we could have more in the second half but we had good control of the game.
"The mentality of the team was brilliant today and the fitness levels were shining through.
"It is a great place we are in at the minute. We are not getting carried away, we know we have another big week coming up.
"That is the end of a fantastic week for the players and the club."
Derek McInnes apologised to the Aberdeen supporters for his side's inept first-half display.
He said: "That was a huge disappointment for me today.
"I was astonished at some of the defending and some of the goals we lost.
"It was painful and I can only apologise to supporters because our supporters are deserving of far better than that.
"I think I am deserving of better than that from my team and my players are better than what they showed today.
"I thought we were awful. After losing the first goal we lacked personality and determination and I always felt every time the ball went into the box in the first half it ended up in a goal for Celtic.
"The biggest issue was the lack of tackles, contact, determination."
McInnes was particularly displeased by the way Edouard was able to make his way in to the box to fire in the opener.
He said: "The first goal in particular was awful. Awful.
"It is good play from them but the lack of challenge and determination to stop that happening was particularly poor for me and it didn't get much better.
"We lost confidence from then on and we looked like a team who stood back and admired Celtic's good play.
"We can still lose to Celtic when they are at their best but I don't expect us to lose the types of goals we lost today because I expect us to let Celtic know we are there a bit more than we did."
CELTIC MAKE IT A HAT-TRICK OF WINS WITH CRUSHING VICTORY AT ABERDEEN
Celtic rounded off a magnificent week with a 4-0 dismantling of Aberdeen in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The Hoops' dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Lazio on Thursday night followed a 6-0 thrashing of Ross County last weekend and Neil Lennon's side powered to another impressive victory at Pittodrie.
French forward Odsonne Edouard struck in the 10th minute before 18-year-old Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong doubled that lead five minutes later with his first Hoops goal in his first away match since signing from Manchester City in September.
Derek McInnes' side offered little resistance and further first-half strikes from attackers James Forrest and Mohamed Elyounoussi left Aberdeen in tatters and their supporters far from happy, with Celtic cruising the second half.
Lennon had hinted that he would be loath to make many changes to his side but midfielder Ryan Christie dropped out to serve the second game of a two-match ban to be replaced by Tom Rogic while Frimpong came in ahead of Hatem Elhamed, who started from the bench.
Connor McLennan replaced James Wilson for the Dons but any confidence taken from the fine 3-0 win over Motherwell last week soon evaporated.
The champions started the game ahead of Rangers at the top of the table by one more goal scored and quickly added to their tally.
Edouard played a one-two with Forrest on the right and glided into the Dons penalty area unchallenged by centre-backs Michael Devlin and Scott McKenna and rifled the ball from 16 yards low past goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
The home side were undone by more poor defending in the 15th minute when Frimpong raced into the box to look for a return Edouard pass and when the ball broke loose after McKenna and right-back Shay Logan got tangled up with Lewis, he had the easiest of tasks knocking the ball over the line.
The visitors dominated possession thereafter, putting the dispirited Dons to the sword.
Forrest all but walked in number three in the 36th minute. Elyounoussi set him up after taking a pass from Rogic, who crossed for the Norway international to fend off Devlin and knock in a fourth from 12 yards seconds before the interval.
Unsurprisingly, McInnes made changes at the break with Craig Bryson on for McLennan and Wilson replacing Niall McGinn, while Nir Bitton took over from Hoops defender Christopher Jullien.
Celtic stepped off the gas but picked their moments to attack.
In the 65th minute, after Logan had fouled Edouard 25 yards from goal, Lewis tipped the Frenchman's free-kick around a post for a corner.
Edouard was soon replaced by Vakoun Issouf Bayo before Frimpong fired over on the angle after being set up by Forrest, but the game continued to fade out to another imposing win for Celtic.
