The 38-year-old, in charge at Parkhead since Tony Mowbray's departure last month, saw his side maintain their perfect league record under his stewardship with a 3-2 win over Hibernian on Saturday which, nominally at least, kept the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race alive.

When the Celtic hierarchy make a decision about their manager for next season, the 2-0 Active Nation Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Ross County is likely to hold as much weight as the four league victories he has achieved.

Whatever happens, Lennon is loving his time at the helm.

Lennon, who saw Darren O'Dea limp off with an ankle injury against Hibs, said: "I have lost weight because I'm not eating. I don't have the time. It consumes you, your whole mentality. You are thinking about it non-stop, but it's brilliant.

"Regardless of where I go in management, if I'm lucky enough to get a job, I will take that same passion and love for the game wherever I go.

"But I'm really enjoying my time here and I just want to get the best for the club in the next few weeks."

Hibs manager John Hughes felt his side sat back too much after taking the lead and paid the price by conceding two goals in the final 11 minutes.

"I'm always an expansive coach," he said. "I come and have a go, I want people to express themselves and when I have got guys like (Derek) Riordan, (Anthony) Stokes and (Colin) Nish on the pitch and Benji (Abdessalam Benjelloun) on the bench, they have always got goals in them.

"I just hope we don't go out in the final part of the season on a dip."

Aberdeen striker Steven MacLean was delighted to score the goal that should ensure the Pittodrie side's SPL survival as they beat Falkirk 1-0.

The on-loan Plymouth player said: "Whatever happens to me in the future I just want to do well with the team and get a few goals along the way. It was a massive game and a good goal to win it.

"We answered our critics but to be fair at times we deserved stick. We shouldn't have been in a position where we needed to win like this to get us safe. Hopefully now we can push on and catch St Johnstone."

The Saints needed two late goals to salvage a 2-2 draw against relegation battlers St Mirren and manager Derek McInnes was unimpressed.

"I felt we never got our lift until we scored our first goal. I could then physically see the difference in the team," he said.

"It was a bad day for us. We left it late but managed to salvage a point."

Next up for St Mirren are Kilmarnock, with whom they are level on points just one above bottom side Falkirk after Jimmy Calderwood's men lost 3-0 at Hamilton.

Having only scored four times away from home all season - by far the worst return in British league football - it was no surprise to see Killie's heads drop once they fell behind.

"I don't know what the problem is," said midfielder Craig Bryson.

"We've lost 10 games away from home 1-0, so we've not been coming back.

"It looks like the first goal's going to be crucial for us. If we get it, we can hang on."