Lennon satisfied with performance

The Hoops were made to pay for early profligacy in the first leg of their third-round qualifier less than two minutes into the second half when Rasmus Schuller fired the visitor ahead.

However, the Scottish champion stormed back and striker Gary Hooper levelled in the 54th minute before defender Charlie Mulgrew headed the winner seven minutes later.

The Celtic boss was bullish in his assessment of his side's first competitive 90 minutes of the season and its prospects in the return game in Finland next week.

"I am not disappointed at all," Lennon said.

"It is a huge improvement on where we were last year.

"I think Helsinki can count themselves pretty fortunate that it was only 2-1.

"They will think they have got a good result but I seen enough there ... there is plenty of scope for us in the away tie.

"I am not looking at it through rose tinted glasses, I do look at it from a different perspective sometimes. I am pleased with the performance.

"The scoreline doesn't reflect the performance but sometimes that happens.

"We have a week to get ready, we have another game at the weekend obviously and the players will benefit from that game tonight.

"The tempo of the game was good and some of the football and chances created were superb against a team who just wanted to sit in and counter-attack.

"We want European football badly and I think the players showed that.

"For me, the tie is in the balance. We are a goal up which gives us a slight advantage over them.

"They will have to come out and score, they showed they are capable of doing that but then again, so are we."

Lennon was especially pleased by the way his players reacted to losing a goal just after the break.

The former Celtic skipper said: "We showed brilliant character, the game could have got away from us at that stage.

"You can't have the perfect game all the time. Fraser Forster made the save, it hit off Victor Wanyama and the guy scored.

"The disappointing thing was it came from our attacking half and they got in too easily for my liking.

"Their energy levels could have sagged but such is the work they have put in and the spirit they have got, they clawed their way back brilliantly and but for a bit of luck or better finishing we could have won the tie more comfortably.

"Overall, I can't be overly critical of the team. For the first competitive game it was an excellent performance.

"They are listening and learning and they know they have a good chance of qualifying."

HJK Helsinki coach Antti Muurinen admitted his side got the away goal it wanted.

He said: "The result mattered most and we have a good chance in the second game.

"I was especially pleased to get the goal away from home and I was especially pleased with the way we played in the first 45 minutes.

"It was an amazing atmosphere and Celtic played well but our team fought with great spirit.

"The tempo Celtic played at wasn't what we were used to and that is worrying for the second leg, but I still believe we have a chance."