Billy McNeill: Jozo Simunovic winner 'perfect' way to mark legend's death - Neil Lennon - BBC Sport
Celtic manager Neil Lennon says a winner from a number five after 67 minutes is the "perfect" way to pay tribute to club legend Billy McNeill.
Last updated on .From the section Celtic

Jozo Simunovic scoring Celtic's winner against Kilmarnock was a "perfect" way to pay tribute to club legend Billy McNeill, says manager Neil Lennon.

Simunovic wears the number five jersey once graced by the former Celtic defender and manager, who captained the side to European Cup glory in 1967.

His goal came after 67 minutes and Lennon said he thought "Billy would have been delighted".

It came during a day of events designed to celebrate the club legend's life.

Lennon and captain Scott Brown laid a wreath at McNeill's statue ahead of kick-off and the crowd burst into a rendition of the Celtic Song.
• None 'McNeill remains everything Celtic want to be'
• None 'Legend is not a big enough word'

McNeill died on Monday aged 79 and his family wanted his life commemorated in "cheers, songs and applause" at the Premiership game against Kilmarnock.

With McNeill's former Lisbon Lions team-mates in attendance, a minute's applause was held before kick-off and video tributes shown and Celtic's players wore black armbands bearing the number five.

City rivals Rangers will also hold a minute's applause when they host Aberdeen - who McNeill managed - on Sunday, as did various other SPFL clubs on Saturday.

Lennon thought his side's 1-0 win, which takes Celtic to within a point of an eighth consecutive Scottish title, "couldn't have turned out any better".

"He would have been delighted with the centre-backs, both of them, their performance, the clean sheet and obviously the number five getting the winner," he told BBC Scotland.

There was a real sense of emotion in the air as the Celtic team coach arrived at the foot of the Celtic Way. The players emerged, led by Lennon and Brown as applause swept through the large crowd that had assembled to greet them, gathered around the statue of McNeil holding aloft the European Cup.

It was a poignant moment as the captain and manager laid a wreath and the crowds remained as the players made their way into the stadium, with the applause continuing as the surviving Lisbon Lions also arrived. A quiet, respectful, reflective atmosphere here at Celtic Park for now in the spring sunshine.