A FLURRY of late goals at New Douglas Park this afternoon (Sunday) ensured Celtic overcame Hamilton to climb seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Neil Lennon was delighted with his side’s 4-1 win and hailed the momentum his players have gathered since the turn of the year.

Today’s victory makes it five for five for the Scottish champions, in a match that saw Odsonne Edouard raise his goal tally for the season so far to 22, James Forrest lift his to 16, and centre-half Christopher Jullien bag his sixth.

“I’m delighted with the result, it was a huge three points,” said the manager. “Hamilton set up really and were well organised. To lose a goal from a set play in the first half was disappointing, but the reaction was very good.

“I don’t know how Odsonne does it, he got his free-kick up and over the wall brilliantly. We then wanted more tempo in the second half. We had to wait a while for the second goal, but once we got that, I knew we could get a few more. The momentum we’ve built before the turn of the year has been fantastic.”

Neil Lennon praised substitutes Jonny Hayes, Tom Rogic and Ryan Christie for their collective impact from the bench, and singled out 20-year-old Stephen Welsh, who made his competitive debut at the heart of the Hoops’ 3-5-2 formation.

The manager added: “I thought the subs gave us extra impetus, which is great. And then you’ve got Edouard, Griffiths, Forrest, all the big players played well today. I thought Welsh was excellent as well, and he can be really proud of himself, he definitely gives me food for thought going forward.

“You want to capitalise on the results elsewhere in the league when you can. Psychologically that’s good. It’s the first little buffer we’ve had in a while.

“I thought the goals were thoroughly deserved today. We were so much better in the second half. We stuck with the formation, we thought about going with the four at the back, but the subs really freshened things up. And then we got three good goals from there.

“I think we’ve had a really good season so far. I’m really proud of the players, and I can’t ask any more from them at the moment.”

Neil Lennon hails fantastic momentum in wake of Hamilton win