'That was Champions League quality' - reaction as Celtic come from behind to beat Lazio

Looking ahead to the trip to Rome, Neil Lennon adds: "Ideally you go to win the game, but on the evidence of tonight we know how difficult that will be. We'll prepare the team as best we can. It's a match we've been looking forward to since the draw was made. I thought it was a titanic game tonight and the atmosphere was spectacular. I thought both teams competed brilliantly and I expect the game to be similar in Rome. If we can get a positive result in Rome it would be fantastic and we'll go there in a positive frame of mind."

Neil Lennon has also been singing the praises of Fraser Forster following those two great stops.

"I've seen it again, it's an unbelievable volley," he says of the shot from Danilo Cataldi. "Touching on the naivety again, we had the ball and it was a minute to go, and I'm thinking Scotland v England all over again (Harry Kane's equaliser in the 2-2 draw). Instead of putting it into the corner, we're trying to counter attack and we've missed the pass and it gave us a frantic moment at the end of the game.

"I know what Forster is capable of and he's starting to show that. He makes saves that other goalkeepers don't make. The save from Parolo is a brilliant save but again with me being over critical I thought he could've maybe done better with the first goal. That's me again being pedantic, but then you see the two world class saves that he makes and the saves go 10-15 yards away from the goal. That's why we brought him in and that's why we brought him in the first time."

Asked if that late save was the best of his career, Fraser Forster pauses for a half a beat and says: 'Nah. There's been better and hopefully a few more to come.

"This is why I came back here," he adds. "For nights like this."

The big keeper made incredible save deep into injury time and pulled off a great close-range block earlier.

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Despite his joy at the result, Neil Lennon says there are aspects that could improve.

"I'm more proud of the resilience that they've shown and I'm proud of the win," says the Celtic manager. "I think at times we could have handled aspects of the game better but that's me being pedantic and looking for the perfect performance all the time when you're not going to get that.

"When you put it in to context, we've just beaten Lazio 2-1 at home and it's an amazing feeling. At times we did play good football. I just felt we were a little bit hesitant in the final third - particularly in the first half and in terms of the final ball or getting our shots off quicker. We wanted a little bit more direct play in the second half and we got that."

Neil Lennon has had some huge European results in his two spells as Celtic boss, including a famous win over Barcelona, and when asked about where tonight's win ranks, the Northern Irishman says: "It's certainly up there. I think this team is still a work in progress for where we would like to take it to, but that's the first time I've beaten an Italian team in my seventh attempt.

"It's a very proud night for everyone associated with the club. We look forward to the match in Rome now but we know how difficult that's going to be on the evidence of what we've seen tonight."

Celtic sit top of their Europa League group, but, in typical fashion, Neil Lennon is in no mood to rest on his team's achievements at this halfway stage.

"It's a great position to be in," he says. "It's so important to win your home games. That, to me, was a Champions League game tonight with the quality that was on show from both sides and the tempo that the game was played at. And Lazio came to really play. So for us to get on the positive side of that result was fantastic. Yes, we have seven points now but there is still a lot of work left to be done in the group to ensure that we qualify."

When asked about what impressed him most, Neil Lennon replies: "My captain (Scott Brown). There were some great individual performances. You could see it's a learning curve for some players, there's a bit of naivety in their play. But over the piece to go to- to-toe with Lazio and come away with three points is a huge shot in the arm for the team."

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon is still beaming from ear to ear as he starts his post-match media conference.

"Lazio were superb," he says. "There were periods of the game when they were the superior team. I thought we started the game very well and then the psychology of the game changed. Lazio scored and got the upper hand, we made a change to get more support up to Odsonne Edouard and thankfully that worked.

"At times against quality sides you need your goalkeeper to play well and Fraser Forster pulled off two outstanding saves. Then the players dug out more energy and chances to get the winner. It has been an epic night for the players and the club."

As we wait to hear from Neil Lennon's media conference, we can celebrate Scotland's rise to 15th in the Uefa coefficient rankings - up four places.

A huge contributing factor is the coming of age of Rangers under Steven Gerrard’s Stewardship.

It was just over two years ago boss Pedro Caixinha was standing in a hedge remonstrating with fizzing fans after the club’s worst ever continental defeat at the hands of Progres Niederkorn. The transformation is extraordinary.

Over two campaigns, Gerrard’s Rangers have played 25 games in Europe, losing only three and winning 12.

You can read more about the Scottish referee's controversial decision here.

Quote Message: I don't think Celtic have anything to fear going away to Lazio. The only thing was that they lost their tempo at the start of the second half, but I think they can go to Rome and match Lazio.

I don't think Celtic have anything to fear going away to Lazio. The only thing was that they lost their tempo at the start of the second half, but I think they can go to Rome and match Lazio.

Rangers defender Connor Goldson says he was hit with a variety of missiles during the game.

He also thought Alfredo Morelos was struck as he celebrated his equaliser at the Estadio do Dragao.

"There was a lot of lighters and coins getting thrown," said the centre-back. "I got hit by a lighter and a coin. I think Buff (Morelos) got hit as well.

"Then the referee told me to stop (celebrating) and walk away and I just picked up the lighter and coin and told him, but nothing got done.

"Its crazy. I can understand having a passion for your team but at the same time they have come to watch us as athletes trying to do our best for our own team, and I don't think that's acceptable."

Remember the night kicked off with Rangers earning an impressive draw away in Portugal. While Celtic ramped up the drama back home, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard was basking in an impressive performance.

"I’m very proud of the players," he said. "I thought the performance was outstanding. We at least deserved to take a point.

“That’s the level we need to bottle and find. Certainly if we want to get out of this group.

“If we can find that level of performance we’ll have a right good chance.

“I’m not going to get carried away here because they are three very difficult games. But that is a big point.

“Some draws feel like defeats like the weekend [1-1 draw with Hearts]. We didn’t do ourselves justice, we weren’t Rangers. But some points feel more important.

“If we can find that level on three occasions I will be very surprised if we don’t get out."

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Quote Message: Last year and the year before we were watching European games and not knowing what Celtic was going to turn up. I think they look stronger now and have a better balance. They have a stronger squad than when Brendan Rodgers was here. Rodgers' team played good football but they were open in Europe under him.

Last year and the year before we were watching European games and not knowing what Celtic was going to turn up. I think they look stronger now and have a better balance. They have a stronger squad than when Brendan Rodgers was here. Rodgers' team played good football but they were open in Europe under him.

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Wherever you are in Scotland, and possibly beyond, those things you just heard were the roars for an unbelievable Fraser Forster save right at the end of stoppage-time to keep Celtic’s 2-1 advantage. Followed by a bigger cheer when the referee blew the final whistle to maintain Celtic’s position at the top of Group E, sitting pretty on seven points from three games.

Neil Lennon wanted this to be remembered as one of the great European nights at Celtic Park. I think it will be. Those who were here certainly won’t forget it in a hurry.

Quote Message: It wasn't a backs-to-the-wall performance at all. If anything, the threat that Lazio had was on the counter-attack. Celtic have just shown another side to their game. When things get tough they roll up their sleeves.

It wasn't a backs-to-the-wall performance at all. If anything, the threat that Lazio had was on the counter-attack. Celtic have just shown another side to their game. When things get tough they roll up their sleeves.

Quote Message: Celtic couldn't put two passes together at the start of the second half but they kept going. Credit to Neil Lennon he made the changes that turned the game in Celtic's favour. The fans were up for it and it really was a special European night here.

Celtic couldn't put two passes together at the start of the second half but they kept going. Credit to Neil Lennon he made the changes that turned the game in Celtic's favour. The fans were up for it and it really was a special European night here.

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Celtic looked to have lost their way for a spell after the interval but they found a second wind with goals from Ryan Christie and Christopher Jullien.

And let's not forget two wonderful saves from Fraser Forster.

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