Neil Lennon impressed by Hibernian but claims it is a ‘tough ask’ to beat Celtic

Neil Lennon admits David Gray has surprised him this season but warned that his former player’s in-form Hibernian team face an “imperious” Celtic in Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash.

Hibs will arrive at Celtic Park on the back of a 15-game unbeaten run which includes a recent home win against the champions.

With 7,000 fans backing the visitors, the Hoops will face a tough test against a Hibs side who are fresh from beating Celtic, Dundee United and Hearts in their last three matches.

Former Hibernian captain Gray took over towards the end of last season and has turned the team’s form around after a slow start to the campaign.

“He’s surprised me,” said former Hibs and Celtic manager Lennon, who was promoting Premier Sports’ live coverage of Sunday’s quarter-final.

“Ultimately, the start wasn’t great, but he kept the same mantra the whole way through. He kept believing in the players, saying ‘we’ll get it right’. He was quite calm, although he was under a huge amount of pressure.

“He’ll have learned a lot about himself going through that difficult period.

“They’ve come out the other side of it fantastically well, and he has. The team’s looking good.

“They’ve had an unbelievable week, beating Celtic, beating Dundee United, winning the derby.

“He’s ticking a lot of boxes really well that you have to do as a Hibs coach, in terms of derby wins, beating the Old Firm, can you finish top four? He’s well on his way to doing that this season, and the place is buzzing.

“It reminds me of my time back in 2018. The scenes against Celtic and then on Sunday. He’s got the crowd really with him, and the team are responding.

“They’re well organised. The fitness levels are excellent. I thought they really forced the issue on Sunday in the second half, and there’s a real belief about them.

“But Celtic are dynamite. The last half hour on Saturday (a 5-2 win over St Mirren) was some of the best football I’ve seen from them this season. I thought they were magnificent going forward.

“Celtic at home are imperious, and it’s going to be a tough ask at any stage of the season.

“But with the feelgood factor around Hibs at the minute, there has to be a quiet confidence they can compete.

“But you’ve got to take your chances. He’s got (Martin) Boyle playing really well at the minute, and that’s really important. He is, for me, the best player when he’s fit and firing.

“I think (Nicky) Cadden’s been a revelation on the left-hand side as well.

“I watched them against Celtic, I was at the game and I thought they were really impressive in their organisation. They played the game perfectly, as good as you could against Celtic.”