Neil Lennon was pleased with the way his Celtic side responded against Hibernian on Saturday following their Catalonian calamity.
The Hoops went into the Scottish Premiership game on the back of a 6-1 Champions League thrashing by Barcelona on Wednesday night which had the Parkhead boss lashing out verbally at most of his players.
However, in swirling wind and rain in the east end of Glasgow, striker Teemu Pukki scored the first-half winner against a workmanlike but limited Hibs side to extend Celtic’s unbeaten run in the league to 15 games and keep them on course for the title and another tilt at European football’s elite club competition next season.
“They weren’t feeling sorry for themselves,” said Lennon.
Hibs boss Terry Butcher was pleased with his side’s commitment and effort but with one goal in their last eight games, he knows where the problems lie and will look to address that when the transfer window opens.
“We’ve always wanted to bring players in, there’s no doubt about that.”
Barry Robson insisted his goal direct from a corner against St Mirren was no fluke and felt Aberdeen’s win at Pittodrie was just reward for their hard work.
The hosts took the lead when Scott Vernon pounced on hesitancy between Buddies goalkeeper Marian Kello and Marc McAusland to lift the ball over the keeper and then fire into an empty net, before Robson made sure of the points with a corner which curled in past Kello.
The win kept the Dons among the pack chasing second place in the Premiership.
Inverurie-born Robson joined his local club on a free transfer from Sheffield United in the summer and while conditions undoubtedly played a part, the midfielder knew exactly what he was doing in scoring his first goal for the Pittodrie club.
“Of course I meant it,” he said. “You can check the record books, but I think I’ve scored a few direct from corners.”
Clinical Billy McKay took his goal tally for the season to 15 to hand John Hughes his first win as Inverness boss and further damage Hearts’ fading hopes of Premiership survival.
A scrappy contest, played in abominable conditions in Edinburgh, was effectively decided when McKay showed typical intelligence and composure to find the opening goal on the hour.
With Inverness buoyed by the opener, McKay and Graeme Shinnie could have made the scoreline far more comfortable, while Jamie MacDonald denied Aaron Doran with a spectacular save.
However, the visitors’ lead was eventually doubled with a scintillating counter-attack, with Marley Watkins surging from the halfway line before finding McKay, who slotted home his second of the game.
Two goals from John Sutton got Motherwell back to winning ways as they edged Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.
Sutton struck twice in the first half hour as the visitors dominated but a spirited second-half showing from County saw them reduce the deficit through Melvin De Leeuw.
Despite County pushing hard for a leveller, Motherwell held on for all three points.