SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013 Lennon hails Celtic’s marathon men GLASGOW: Celtic manager Neil Lennon last year. There is more of a will to win about praised the strength of his players, some of this year. “At times it’s not pretty but you whom have featured in 35 games already, can’t always play silky football the way you’d after they extended their unbeaten start to like. the Scottish Premiership season to 17 games. “You have to earn the right to play and Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk got the only sometimes you have to dig out a few results. goal of the game in the fifth minute with a But I always felt we were in control of the superb finish following a mazy run which game but for that 10 or 15 minutes in the started just inside his own half as the Hoops second half.” St Johnstone had threatened to secured a 1-0 win over St Johnstone at strike first at McDiarmid Park as Stevie May McDiarmid Park. chased down a long ball out of defense but It has been a long season for the Glasgow van Dijk raced back to nick the ball off the giants, who started their campaign in mid- striker’s foot and put it out for a corner. The July as they faced three qualifying rounds on Dutch defender then showed off his skills at their way to making the group stages of the the other end of the park as he put Celtic Champions League. Despite this, the ahead with a superb solo goal. Glasgow giants have now built up an omi- Van Dijk picked up the ball just inside his nous 11-point lead at the top of the Scottish own half and after a jinking run past a cou- Premiership table and Lennon said his side ple of defenders he arrowed a low shot past were working hard to preserve their unbeat- goalkeeper Alan Mannus. Van Dijk has been en status in the league. a stand-out in a Celtic defence that has kept “Our performances have been fantastic. five straight clean sheets in the league and There are only a few clubs now in Europe have conceded just 12 all season and unbeaten and we want to preserve that for Lennon was full of praise for the former FC as long as we can,” the Celtic manager said. Groningen player. “He’s a smashing player “That takes a lot of physical and mental and he’s only going to get better as he’s only strength and they have shown that in abun- 22,” the Celtic manager said. “Defensively dance. “Some of our players have played 35 he’s been fantastic for us. He’s a technically games already. That’s a season for some peo- gifted footballer and he’s a great athlete. His ple and we’re not even out of December yet. all-round game is very good at the Celtic manager Neil Lennon “We would have dropped points this time moment.”— AFP Leicester’s Pearson expects Burnley slump at tense battle for promotion Middlesbrough LONDON: Leicester manager Nigel Pearson said. “They were up and screaming; they believes the battle for promotion to the were buzzing. You’d have thought they LONDON: Leicester moved back to the Lawrie Wilson’s brace and a goal for Premier League will go right down to the had won the lottery rather than scored top of the Championship with a 1-0 win Yann Kermorgant sealed struggling wire. Pearson’s team defeated promotion against Burnley but that is a sign of how far over Reading, while previous leaders Charlton’s 3-2 home victory over rivals Reading 1-0 at the King Power we have come. “In this league it is all about Burnley slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Brighton. Stadium on Thursday thanks to a 21st fine margins and in this game the margins Middlesbrough on Thursday. David Jose Ulloa scored twice for Brighton minute penalty from David Nugent after were incredibly tight.” Third placed QPR Nugent fired home his eighth penalty of but his second didn’t come until second Anthony Knockaert was brought down by missed a chance to draw level on points the season to give Nigel Pearson’s team half stoppage-time. Blackburn failed to Shaun Cummings. with Leicester after crashing to a 2-0 defeat the points at the King Power Stadium. find a way to break down stubborn Reading had a goal from Pavel at Nottingham Forest. Nugent scored from the spot in the 21st Sheffield Wednesday in a dour 0-0 draw Pogrebnyak ruled out for offside in the Millwall are looking for a new manager minute after Anthony Knockaert had at Ewood Park. New Watford manager 66th minute as they staged a second half after sacking Steve Lomas in the immediate been brought down by Shaun Guiseppe Sannino secured his side’s first fightback. But Leicester held on to go top aftermath of a 4-0 thrashing at Watford. Cummings to claim his 12th goal of the league victory in 11 matches as they of the Championship with a win that built Former Manchester City and West Ham season. A series of power failures in the thrashed 10-man Millwall 4-0 at Vicarage first half threatened the game but it was Road. Troy Deeney converted a penalty on their impressive victory at QPR last midfielder Lomas was dismissed just six completed with the use of an emergency after Danny Shittu was sent off for the Saturday. “The last two results have been months into his reign at The Den following generator as Leicester kept on course in foul that brought the spot kick. very good for us. In fact, when you look at a miserable run of results in the second tier. the promotion race. Fernando Forestieri, Ikechi Anya and the last three league games, including The Lions are languishing just three points At the Riverside Stadium, Burnley Lewis McGugan added the other goals in Burnley which we drew and were unlucky above the relegation zone after their third crashed to a disappointing loss as Watford’s first win since the departure of not to win, we have done very well,” successive defeat and Lomas, who was nev- Emmanuel Ledesma sealed the points boss Gianfranco Zola. Pearson said. er accepted by many Millwall fans due to for the struggling hosts. Ledesma, who On-loan Manchester United forward “But I think that we need to because it his time as captain of their bitter rivals West also scored at Millwall in his previous Jesse Lingard was sent off for really is tight. It’s that stage of the season Ham, was told he was sacked in a meeting appearance, got the 24th minute winner Birmingham, but his side held on for a 0- where you can very quickly fall behind or with chief executive Andy Ambler soon as Middlesbrough recorded back-to- 0 draw at Wigan.Matt Richie scored you can do a bit of catching up. So it has after full-time at Watford. back wins for the first time in 2013. twice as Bournemouth condemned low- been a good week for us so far. “We have Fourth placed Derby were left to rue Fourth placed Derby were left to rue ly Yeovil to comprehensive 3-0 defeat Chris Martin’s missed penalty as on the south coast, the other goal com- done okay so far this season and it will be Chris Martin’s missed penalty as Huddersfield snatched a 1-1 draw. ing from Eunan O’Kane. Neil Danns’ sec- tight all the way through I am sure.” Huddersfield snatched a 1-1 draw, while Craig Bryson handed Steve ond-half goal claimed a 1-0 victory for Leicester’s win knocked Burnley down to play-off hopefuls Leeds drew 1-1 at McClaren’s Derby a 30th minute lead, Bolton at Barnsley. In the first of the second place after the previous leaders Blackpool. David McGoldrick’s brace took three minutes after Martin failed to con- day’s late matches, play-off hopefuls were beaten 1-0 at Middlesbrough. his season’s tally to 11 and helped Ipswich vert that spot kick. But with four minutes Leeds drew 1-1 at Blackpool. Then third- Emmanuel Ledesma’s goal gave claim a 3-0 win at Doncaster. Lawrie remaining Martin Paterson fired into the placed QPR missed the chance to go lev- Middlesbrough back-to-back wins for the Wilson’s brace and a goal for Yann roof of the net to steal a share of the el on points with leaders Leicester after first time in 2013, sparking wild celebra- Kermorgant sealed struggling Charlton’s 3- spoils for Huddersfield, denying Derby crashing to a 2-0 defeat at Nottingham tions from the home players and fans. 2 home victory over Brighton. Wigan drew the opportunity to go level on points Forest. A first half header from Greg Burnley manager Sean Dyche said that it 0-0 with 10-man Birmingham, with Burnley. David McGoldrick’s brace Halford and a late strike from Andy Reid was a sign of Burnley’s changed status that Bournemouth beat Yeovil 3-0 and Bolton took his season’s tally to 11 and helped lifted Forest back into the top six as Ipswich claim a 3-0 win at Doncaster, Harry Redknapp’s side suffered a second the hosts celebrated the goal so intensely. won 1-0 at Barnsley, while Blackburn drew with Luke Chambers netting the third.