Hearts’ win over Rangers at the weekend helped Celtic regain the advantage in the race to secure the Scottish Premiership title, though Neil Lennon has tried to play down the result’s significance.
Celtic were handed a massive boost in their pursuit of a ninth consecutive league title, bottom-of-the-table Hearts earning a shock 2-1 victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers last weekend to hand Lennon’s side back the title initiative.
That result, coupled with Celtic’s 3-0 victory over Ross County, leaves the champions five points ahead of Steven Gerrard’s side having played a game more, though speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to face St. Johnstone, Lennon played down the advantage with plenty of football still left to play in the title race and says Rangers’ defeat has not altered the mindset of his players.
“It’s a result that happens,” Lennon told his pre-match press conference.
“Things will twist and turn maybe as we go along maybe, we’re just concentrating on St Johnstone.
“I’ve not detected any change in the players’ emotions in the last couple of days. They are rising to the challenge as normal. We have to concentrate on our own business and keep things nice and calm.”