Celtic boss Neil Lennon has blasted critics who suggest winning the Scottish Premier League title this season has been easy.
The Hoops clinched their second premiership in a row by beating Inverness 4-1 on the weekend but many believe it has been a walk in the park for the Glasgow giants who were without opposition from Old Firm rivals Rangers following their finance-based demotion to the Third Division.
"It is never easy," said Lennon.
"You would denigrate what they had done if you said it was easier. It was not easy at all.
"What everyone misses is that when the results come in and you have had your result, then you look over to what is happening across the road.
"But as far as we were aware or concerned, we knew what was facing us going into the season and we had to get on with it."
He added: "This gets brought up a lot.
"In terms of competition, in my time this is the eighth championship we've won and five of those were by 17 or more points with Rangers in the league.
"The only time it is close is when it goes to the final game of the season. The fans really miss that edge between each other."
