THE Stone Roses' I am the Resurrection was played over the Rugby Park public address system at half-time on Saturday.

THE Stone Roses’ I am the Resurrection was played over the Rugby Park public address system at half-time on Saturday.

It would prove to be a rather appropriate choice. Celtic came back from the dead against Kilmarnock, and in doing so probably prevented the untimely demise of their manager.

Their second-half comeback was perhaps the biggest shock on a day full of surprises. At half-time, though, with Celtic trailing 3-0 after goals from Dean Shiels, Paul Heffernan and James Fowler, it seemed the only outstanding issue was whether Neil Lennon would jump before he was pushed.

A fourth defeat in just 10 leagues matches would surely have brought about the termination of his tenure as manager one way or the other, and it was hard to imagine Lennon, a proud and honest man, clinging on desperately if it had become apparent that it was time for him to go.

And for the best part of 45 minutes, the time between Kilmarnock’s third goal and Celtic scoring their first, his exit appeared to be the only possible outcome.

The scent of blood was in the air, with TV news reporters ordered to beat a hasty path to Rugby Park to make sure they were front and centre for Lennon’s post-match media briefing.

Those hoping for a teary resignation speech for their evening bulletins would be left disappointed, however, as Celtic belatedly found a sense of urgency and spirit where previously none had existed.

Three goals in seven minutes -- two from Anthony Stokes and another from Charlie Mulgrew -- turned the game on its head, the only surprise in the closing stages that Celtic did not contrive to produce a winner.

The gallows were put away for another time. There would be no public hanging today. The afternoon would take yet a further twist with Rangers also being held to a draw that meant, despite all the drama, Celtic were no worse off in their pursuit of the league leaders than they had been at the start of play, despite slipping further behind Motherwell in second place.

Not for the first time Lennon found himself expressing his gratitude to St Mirren, the side who, with a late equaliser at Ibrox, prevented Rangers stretching their advantage. It had been a heavy defeat to the Paisley club 19 months ago that had abruptly ended Tony Mowbray’s tenure at Celtic and gave Lennon his first chance in management.

For a long spell on Saturday it looked as if the Northern Irishman was on the brink of suffering a similar fate.

Lennon admitted it had crossed his mind that this might be his final match as Celtic manager, while his players, too, were also made aware during a frank discussion what the consequences could be if they didn’t buck up their ideas.

“He [Lennon] said at half-time that we had to do it for the management, the staff and for ourselves as well,” revealed James Forrest, Celtic’s brightest performer on the day. “We were letting everyone down. We were letting the club down, and we were letting the fans down. The whole team in that first-half performance wasn’t good enough.”

Lennon later described that interval team talk as the most important of his managerial career, although it would be stretching the truth to say his words had an immediate effect once play resumed.

Celtic still struggled initially to create any chances of note although they at least looked more dynamic minus the petulant Biram Kayal, taken off before he was sent off, and Gary Hooper, who was allowed to limp to the break despite sustaining an ankle injury fairly early in the contest.

Two pieces of individual brilliance from Stokes, who atoned for missing a first-half sitter, and Mulgrew’s late header eventually rescued a point, although Celtic still had to breathe a sigh of relief when Heffernan missed a snip to win it right at the death. Forrest, though, saw plenty to be positive about in his team’s second-half display.

“In Celtic’s history we have always been good in the last 20 minutes of games and get back from losing positions to win games,” said the young winger. “That second half was right up there with one of our best.”

Lennon, though, will be relieved by how things turned out on Saturday, but not fooled. There is a deep malaise prevalent throughout his team and it will be the job of him and his backroom staff to root it out before it lands them the sack.

Only Forrest and Cha Du-Ri earned pass marks for their first-half efforts, although Stokes, Mulgrew, Victor Wanyama and Joe Ledley all made decent contributions once the teams had turned around at the break.

Daniel Majstorovic once again looked uncomfortable in a revamped defensive line-up and Thomas Rogne can surely not be far away from earning a recall, perhaps as early as Thursday’s Europa League match away to Rennes. In midfield, Celtic are clearly missing the injured Scott Brown, for his drive and leadership if nothing else.

When Fowler knocked in Kilmarnock’s third goal, the Celtic team to a man trudged back for the restart with their heads down. Not one, not even stand-in skipper Mulgrew, tried to rouse his men as the game slipped away.

James McFadden’s potential arrival may add a much-needed spark but it will not address all of Celtic’s woes. That responsibility lies with Lennon. He will be grateful to at least still have the chance of doing so.