Lennon hails new recruit
The 26-year-old Tunisia forward was given his first start for the Hoops since signing a two-year contract following his departure from Deportivo La Coruna in the summer.
After strikes from Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama had given the home side an unassailable lead against the SPL’s bottom side at Parkhead, Lassad was denied his first Celtic goal by former Hoops goalkeeper Robert Douglas. He saved the striker’s close-range header, having earlier kept out Scott Brown’s penalty after Lassad was tripped by Dundee defender Kyle Benedictus.
Lassad was replaced by Tony Watt in the 65th minute, by which time Lennon had been encouraged by what he had seen from his new striker.
“He hadn’t played for three or four months and we always worried that fitness would be an issue,” said Lennon.
“He came off with a slight groin problem but we are hoping that it is just a mild problem.
“His link-up play was good, he won us the penalty, he had a really good header tipped over the bar so we were pleased in general with his play and we know there is more to come from him.”
The champions’ superiority could have translated into more goals had it not been for some wayward shooting and a fine performance by Douglas.
Brown’s penalty was well struck but the 40-year-old Dees number one got a hand to the ball to tip it over.
Lennon said: “Scott has been the designated taker for quite a while and this was the first penalty of the season.
“So there might be a bit of a queue lining up to take the next one.”
* Lewis Macleod and Robbie Crawford both claimed their first goals for the club as Rangers moved to within a point of the Irn-Bru Third Division summit with a win over Montrose.
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