Lennon won't accept a loss

Celtic star Neil Lennon has challenged his team-mates to break Morton’s 40-year Scottish league record on Sunday and then go through the Bank of Scotland Premier League unbeaten.

The victory over Dundee United last weekend saw the runaway Bank of Scotland Premier League leaders equal the Greenock side’s milestone of 23 successive league wins in the former Second Division.

The Glasgow giants could better that at Firhill on Sunday which would leave them chasing more targets.

“For us it’s something that means a lot,” said Lennon.

“It’s 40 years that record’s been held for so bearing that in mind at the highest level in Scotland is incredible.

“It’s a hell of a run. We’ve got to break it first but I would hope in 40 years time that will still be the record.

“It’s fine by me to win the title by the split and we did that the first year.

“But if we were unbeaten by that stage then we would maybe try and go through the season unbeaten.

“That might be another target for the team and the manager. That would be another tremendous achievement.”

But coach Steve Walford is refusing to rule Rangers out of the championship running despite being 13 points clear.

“Funny things have happened,” he said. “We have a good cushion and there is still a long way to go.

“There are a lot of games to be played and perhaps lack of form or anything could hit us.

“We have to just keep our heads down and keep winning matches – we are a good team to actually perform as well as we have been doing.”

But Lennon does not expect Celtic to throw the title away because the disappointment of last season is still driving them on.

They lost out on the championship on the last day of the season and were beaten in the UEFA Cup final.

Lennon admitted: “Definitely that loss was hard to take.

“It’s always horrible to lose the league on the last day of the season and to end up trophyless at the end of a great season. That’s what is driving us.

“We want to keep the gap as big as possible and not give them any hope at all.”

Partick will be hoping Robert Douglas, Jackie McNamara and Stephen Pearson will be suffering from a hangover after Scotland’s dismal defeat to Wales for Scotland in midweek.

But Walford believes that they will have recovered in time for the testing trip to bottom club Partick.

“They will be disappointed but they will be happy to get back into action for us,” he said.

“It will help to get back with us and get on with the performance. I have no concerns about them at all.”

But Walford is expecting another tough afternoon at Firhill despite being eight points adrift at the foot of the table.

“We have never had an easy game against them,” he insisted.

“We will have a good crowd behind us and it will be difficult because they are fighting for their lives.

“We have got to be right for it or anything can happen.”