Neil Lennon bizarrely snubbed Celtic stars Vakoun Issouf Bayo and Oliver Burke for Jonny Hayes but it paid off

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Celtic left it late to pick up a win against relegation-threatened Dundee in yesterday’s Scottish Premiership clash.

Dundee held the visitors until deep into stoppage time, when Odsonne Edouard popped up in the box to convert James Forrest’s pull-back in the 96th minute.

It was heartbreak for Dundee, who have now lost four in a row and sit six points adrift in the relegation play-off place – one point ahead of bottom club St Mirren.

But it was elation for Celtic and Neil Lennon as they moved 10 points clear of bitter rivals Rangers.

During the match, Lennon made a questionable substitution, bringing on Jonny Hayes for youngster Mikey Johnston around the hour mark.

Hayes has hardly featured for Celtic since he joined the club in 2017 but he was brought on ahead of three more viable attacking options.

Celtic fans would have expected Oliver Burke, Timothy Weah or Vakoun Issouf Bayo to enter the field of play ahead of 31-year-old Hayes.

But Lennon kept his other options in reserve, eventually bringing on Weah for Jeremy Toljan. However, Burke and Bayo remained as unused substitutes.

When the game looked like it was heading for a goalless draw, many Celtic fans would have been questioning Lennon’s decision.

But Hayes actually had a good game, injecting some urgency and directness to Celtic’s game and creating several chances. Lennon would have watched these players in training and perhaps he knows best after guiding Celtic to a 1-0 win.