WANDERERS have rediscovered the fire in their belly – and Neil Lennon could not be more delighted.

While three well-crafted goals settled Saturday’s win against Brentford, the Whites boss was equally impressed with the way his side went about the less glamorous side of the game too.

Lennon – someone who was no stranger to making a tackle in his playing days – was just as thrilled to see Chung-Yong Lee and Jay Spearing throwing themselves around in midfield to retrieve possession as spraying the ball to all four corners of the pitch.

And while Wanderers picked up six yellow cards on the day, which means they are likely to be hit with a fine from the Football Association, the manager believes restoring the grit to the team is a crucial aspect in their recovery this season.

“It’s part of the game for me,” he said. “I made a decent career out of being able to tackle and it’s probably a skill that has left the game a little bit and certainly we’ve become a bit more passive.

“I watched some away games before I took over and we never laid a glove on teams so it was important to get a little bit more of a physical aspect – within the laws of the game obviously – to the way we played.”

Lennon thanked the home fans for the backing they gave at the Macron, which was a world apart from the doom and gloom that had often been the case prior to his arrival.

The manager nipped into a sold-out FanZone prior to the game for a question-and-answer session and paid tribute to the Wanderers faithful for staying behind himself and the players during a tense second half.

“From start to finish the supporters were first class,” he said. “I think the fans are desperate for it, they just want some entertainment and a bit of pride in the team.”

But Lennon also praised his players for giving the fans something to shout about.

The seemingly-reborn Chung-Yong Lee was again a standout performer in midfield not only for the work he did on the ball but also the hard work off it.

And the Wanderers boss points to the Korean’s gritty example as the one he wants his whole team to follow.

“There was one stage that Chungy went in for a tackle and it lifted the whole place, the whole team, when you see a player of his quality doing his bit for the team.

“I’ve been at this ground when it’s been flat but with the tempo of the game and with players like Chung-Yong Lee going into slide tackles, it lifts everybody – not just the crowd but defenders and midfield players see a playmaker is putting his foot in and getting his hands dirty for the team.

“I felt Chungy might have been a bit lightweight before I came here but he’s competed for absolutely everything – headers, tackles, they are all giving me everything at the moment so I can’t ask for more.”