Neil Lennon believes the clean sheet Celtic kept in their 1-0 win over Elfsborg at Parkhead on Wednesday night could be key to getting past the Swedish side in the second leg of their Champions League third round qualifier

It was not a vintage performance from Celtic, who huffed and puffed for long spells against the organised and at times robust Swedish champions before a second-half header from Kris Commons gave them the advantage for the trip to Boras next week.

"I am delighted with the performance and the result," said Lennon. "They made it difficult for us to break them down but it was not frustrating, it was understandable.

"We weren't at our best but that was always going to be the case, there is still a bit of rust there. We still have a lot to do in the tie but we are confident.

"The crucial thing is clean sheet. That is important. If we score over there Elfsborg have got to have three. The tie is probably in the balance but we are confident that we can go there and get a result.

"The Astroturf might change things with the way I pick my team. But I was pleased with result. I would have taken 1-0 before the game."

Much of the attention was on Mo Bangura, who, as expected, took his place in the Elfsborg side against his parent club who had tried and failed to prevent the 24-year-old striker, on loan to the Swedes for one year, from playing in either of the ties.

Bangura was jeered each time he touched the ball but kept the Celtic defence occupied without causing material damage.

Lennon said: "I thought he did well, considering it was a thankless task. I thought Efe Ambrose and Kelvin Wilson played him very well."

The Elfsborg manager, Jorgen Lennartsson, believes his side are still in the tie. "They were the better side and deserved to win the game. But I don't think Celtic should feel that the tie is over because it is not," he said. "It was a very good first half and we played exactly the way we wanted.

"In the second half we were too deep and did not have enough possession, didn't create any chances – maybe one – and they pressed us hard. We hoped we could defend to get a draw but we conceded one goal.

"It was not good but we think the game is still alive. We have lost one of the last 25 game at home on our Astroturf. So it will be a different game, we have to attack, we will have the crowd on out side."

Lennartsson admitted he had targeted Georgios Samaras, who came in for some heavy treatment from the visitors. He said: "Of course, he is a good player and he didn't score."

Of Bangura, the Swede's coach said: "He was excellent and showed he is mentally strong and could handle the pressure Celtic had put on him, and we put on him by playing him."

Commons claimed Celtic had treated Elfsborg the way that they had prepared for the games against Barcelona in the group stages of the competition last season.

He said: "It reminded me a lot of how we played against Barcelona. We had to give their top-quality players respect, get behind the ball and make us break them down. In fairness to them, they probably saw how good we are at home and gave us respect. They would have been happy at 1-0. It could be a vital goal in the grand scheme of things but I do think we can score in Sweden.

"Fraser [Forster], the Celtic goalkeeper] could have stayed in the changing-rooms. I don't think the ball touched his gloves. They were happy at 1-0. I think they would have been delighted at 0-0. But we are more than confident about going on the road and getting goals."