We owe Celtic fans, says Keane

Robbie Keane said the Celtic players owed the fans a performance after his double helped Neil Lennon’s reign as caretaker-boss start with a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead.

A 4-0 thrashing by St Mirren on Wednesday – Celtic’s heaviest defeat outside an Old Firm match in 30 years – saw Tony Mowbray’s seven-month tenure come to an end with reserve team coach Lennon taking charge of the team until the end of the season.

It was the Hoops’ seventh defeat of a disappointing league campaign where they trail rival Rangers, who closed in on a second successive championship with a 4-1 win over Hearts, by 10 points.

Lennon and his former teammate Johan Mjallby took their place in the dugout for the first time against Kilmarnock and watched as Keane produced two moments of magic to score in either half, taking his tally to 11 in 11 games.

Scott Brown, returning from a three-game suspension, tapped in a third before Craig Bryson’s deflected cross looped over the head of Artur Boruc to pull one back for Kilmarnock.

Irish international Keane said the players had to put on a performance to make it up to the supporters.

“Wednesday night wasn’t good enough – it’s as simple as that. As players we need to take responsibility,” Keane said.

“We can sit and talk about this, that and the other but as players it wasn’t good enough and we have to accept that. Today’s game needed a response and I think the players showed that.

“We set the tone, especially in the first ten minutes, and got the crowd behind us and they gave us a lift. Once you get the first goal it always calms people down and we obviously went on to get a few more.

“It was important to have a high tempo especially when you’re playing at home and I think we did that today.”

Keane, brought in on loan from Spurs in February by Mowbray, said it had been a difficult week for the club after the departure of the manager but the striker said players just had to get on with the job.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Tony and the coaching staff that he had. They were three great guys and I really enjoyed my time working with them,” Keane said.

“I’ve been in this situation many times before and I have seen changes and as players we have to be professional and get on with it.

“I know how difficult it is for a coach to come in from the reserve team to the first team as I’ve been there before with Chris Houghton and David Pleat at Spurs.

“It’s not Neil’s fault that Tony has gone. He’s got a job to do and it’s up to the players now to get behind him and the staff and try and help this club move forward until the end of the season.”

Lennon, who spent seven years as a player at the club, said he was pleased to have got off to a winning start.

“I enjoyed large aspects of the game. Obviously if we had drawn or got beat I would have been devastated but I got the result and the performance so I couldn’t ask for any more,” the Celtic boss said.

“I was nervous, obviously, but I had a job to do. All I have been thinking about since I spoke to Peter Lawell (Celtic’s chief executive) on Thursday is trying to get the team ready and winning the game.

“It’s a relief that it’s over but I’m thrilled we have won and played in a manner which befits the club.

“I just wanted the players to give a bit of pride back after Wednesday night. Now I’ve got a modicum of experience I don’t think it is going to get any easier that’s for sure. I told the players it’s just one game and we have a really difficult game next week against Hibernian.”