Lennon hands Smith a lesson in dignity

Neil Lennon handed out a lesson in dignity tonight after Rangers boss Walter Smith delivered a savage attack on Andreas Hinkel.

The mild mannered full-back's view that Celtic are a better team than Rangers had clearly got under the skin of the Ibrox boss who nursed his grudge until after tonight's defeat.

Amongst other things Smith suggested that there must be something wrong at Celtic if they hadn't won more than Rangers over the last two seasons and that the players must be a poor set of professionals.

Diplomatically Lennon replied saying: "That's not Walter's place. He's not the Celtic manager or affiliated with the club. Those comments should be best left for someone at the club to say.

"I asked the boys to prove me wrong (after the Ross County defeat) and they've gone a long way to doing that.

"I don't comment on Rangers, certainly not as a manager anyway. I've been quite gracious towards Rangers, their performances and the way that they've dealt with things. Their mentality this season.

"I don't think that it's Walter's place to criticise the Celtic players, leave that to people like myself."

Without any prompting and rather than praising his own players efforts over the season Smith launched into his attack on Hinkel.

Previewing the game the Celtic defender had claimed: "When you see the three games we have had against them this season, then think about it. Even the game we lost in the last minute, we deserved a draw. We were very unlucky.

"I can't say in a few words why we are the better team, but just watch the previous Old Firm games.

"I don't want to talk about the decisions in the Old Firm matches but you can see them. We are frustrated about all three games against Rangers."

Having experienced success at Stuttgart and Seville, two clubs that Rangers faced in Europe this season, Hinkel's comments are those of an experienced footballer who has sampled the game in three different countries as well as earning 21 international caps for Germany.

Furious Smith responded with: "Andreas Hinkel said in the paper the other day that Celtic are the better team.

"If he sits down and he analyses what he said then you've got to say why does he think they are a better team than Rangers when Rangers have won six trophies over a three-year period and reached a European final and Celtic have won two.

"He must feel then, that if they are the better team, something is wrong. It might be if they had shown the same attitude as they showed in the first half of the game tonight, they might have been in a far better position.

"He has got to ask himself that question. If he sits down and says that Celtic are a better team than Rangers, he should ask himself if he's proud of the way they have played over the last few seasons because I'm certainly proud of the way my team has played and my team has something tangible to show for it at the end.

"I can't understand why any professional doesn't take a good look at himself first before saying Celtic are a better team than Rangers because it's patently obvious that they are not and haven't been.

"Maybe it's simply because of their approach and their attitude to the game, that Neil Lennon is now bringing out in them.

"But if it takes a manager to bring it out in you, then you are looking at a poor set of professionals."

In this season's Champions League campaign Rangers became the first British club to lose all three home matches and fail to win a single match, in the Europa League Celtic recorded one win and three draws whilst losing at home to Hamburg and away to Hapoel Tel Aviv under former manager Tony Mowbray.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers BBC match highlights 

Video Celts on a Bosman transfer over HERE

Lennon looks for magic from Aiden McGeady

Neil Lennon has challenged Aiden McGeady to turn on the magic in tonight's final derby match of the season.

“I think that he's due a big performance against Rangers,” Lennon said after the midfielder had inspired Celtic to a 4-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday.

McGeady hasn't had much joy against Rangers over the last two years under Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray and was taunted by Nacho Novo on a video on the official Rangers website during the club's title celebrations.

Lennon understands the mindset of his former team-mate better than anyone and knows that an on-form McGeady can help deliver the win that will make his case to become permanent boss irresistible.

“I thought that Aiden was sloppy in the first half,” the caretaker boss admitted after the win over Motherwell. “But he was excellent in the second half.

“Maybe there was a wee bit of flatness about the occasion for him but I think that he'll be right up for it on Tuesday. I think that he's due a big performance against Rangers.

                       Free £20 Paddy Power bet on Celtic v Rangers

"I want him to put in a big performance, not for me or for the fans, but for himself. He deserves a big performance. 

"That’s not throwing down the gauntlet, I just want to coax it out of him. It’s not that he’s not trying or anything like that. 

"The kid is a magnificent professional, he’s fantastic in training and wants to get better all the time. I just think he deserves a big performance to befit his talent.”

Lennon added: “We need to step it up on Tuesday, we need to tighten things up against a team of the quality of Rangers who can punish you.

“Each win has been a step in the right direction, the confidence in the squad is good and we have enough quality to give Rangers a good game.

“The players have to salvage something from the season, they have a good wee run going. They're in a positive frame of mind and are a lot more confident about themselves as a group and individually. They are looking forward to the game.”

Tonight's clash may be technically meaningless but with the manager's job at Celtic still vacant the game has an extra dimension for Lennon.

“Players are defined by it, managers are defined by it,” he admitted in reference to the game against Rangers with the caretaker manager playing a blinder against constant speculation about his prospects.

Lennon hasn't been shy to put himself forward for the job on a permanent basis but has stood back from making public demands of the Celtic board regarding the managers job.

Six SPL wins on the bounce has given his appointment momentum although the defeat to Ross County in the Scottish Cup stands out in the debit column.

Lennon will turn to Robbie Keane to shoot down Rangers with Saturday's extra-time goal against Motherwell taking the striker to the top of the Celtic scoring charts with 15 for the season.

Keane was kept on the bench for an hour on Saturday before helping to secure the win with three goals coming in the last 12 minutes following McGeady's opener.

As a player Lennon was never far from the action against Rangers with the two red cards of his Celtic career coming against the Ibrox side.

That same competitive attitude has been transferred into the dug-out with Lennon kicking every ball and contesting every decision from the side-lines.

Managing Celtic against Rangers with his job prospects on the line will be an incredible challenge for the former Celtic skipper who wears his heart on his sleeve in every match.

“Will I change? No, not at all,” Lennon admitted. “You have to be consistent and can't just change for one game.

"It is a bit unfair to say this match will decide if I get the job. I should be judged over the piece but I know this is probably a job interview.

“Old Firm games define your reputation because fans will always hark back to them. It will be my biggest game and it will be a cup final sort of atmosphere.

"For a lot of the players it will be their last game of the season - possibly their last for the club. So I'd like to think they will put on a show.”

Neil Lennon: James Forrest excites the life out of me

Neil Lennon knows better than most the talent and ability of James Forrest.

Lennon was in charge of the Celtic side that lost 3-1 to Benfica earlier this season in Toronto when Forrest first appeared in a Celtic XI.

As reserve/development manager the caretaker boss has worked extensively with the 18-year-old and was delighted by Forrest's scoring debut against Motherwell today after appearing as an 81st minute substitute.

"He excites the life out of me," Lennon admitted. "I have been waiting to get him in the squad.

"He has been fantastic in the games he has played for me in the development squad. I wanted to give him his chance and I was so pleased for him

"He was out injured for a month and with the u-19s going for the league and cup double it has prevented him from getting his chance.

"He's a great kid and I have high hopes for him. I don't want to get too carried away, but he's a talent."

Forrest's goal, an impressive controlled lob at full stretch after forcing himself clear of a Motherwell defender from a Marco Fortune header, was an extra bonus on the second half performance.

After a promising opening of sharp passing and quick balls being played into the penalty box the pace dropped with Motherwell surviving quite comfortably.

Three minutes into the second half Aiden McGeady put Celtic in front with a classy and unexpected lob from 16 yards out just as his options seemed to run out.

That goal gave the homeside some breathing space with Darren O'Dea heading home a McGeady cross from close range in the 77th minute to ensure that Lennon's 100% SPL record was maintained with Forrest scoring after just six minutes on the park.

During his brief spell on the park he was able to showcase his impressive control and drive. 

With the ability to play comfortably on either flank and an obvious eye for goal he looks certain to be pushing for a first team place next season.

Robbie Keane made it a hat-trick of Irish scorers and moved to the top of the Celtic scoring charts with an injury time goal that bore all of hallmarks of a time served marksman. 

Stevie Frail on James Forrest from August

Lennon describes the appeal process as a nonsense

Neil Lennon has added his backing to the demands to reform the appeals process describing the current set up as a nonsense.

Support to overhaul the current procedure which sees referee's review their own decisions was set in motion last week by Players Union boss Fraser Wishart and an open letter from Celtic Chairman John Reid.

SPL Chief Neil Doncaster has also backed the campaign to change forcing Gordon Smith to admit that he too is now in favour of reforming the system.

Asked about the current system on Celtic's Channel 67 service Lennon said: "I think it's a nonsense. You appeal a decision and then the referee, who made the decision, looks at it again agrees that he was right in the first place!

"Surely it has got to be done by an independent body to get a neutral opinion on it. I'm glad that it is being looked at again. I certainly don't agree with the current system.

"Possibly this will take some pressure off the referees, I don't think that there's anything wrong with saying 'look I've got that one wrong or I've made a wrong decision'.

"If someone else comes in and says that three or four people think that was decision was wrong that's fair. We're just looking for a bit of common sense in the game."

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Neil Lennon: Robbie will handle it

by Joe McHugh Neil Lennon expects Robbie Keane to excel in the red hot atmosphere of  tomorrow's Rangers-Celtic clash.

An away win is essential if Celtic are to retain an interest in this season's SPL title with the hopes of the hoops support pinned firmly on Keane who is likely to play at Ibrox despite missing training for most of the week.

Lennon has seen it all in almost a decade at Celtic  and happily admits that there is no tried and tested recipe for success in this this fixture.

At lunchtime tomorrow Ibrox will be a pumped up madhouse of passion with the man from Lurgan believing that the key to success is to avoid being carried away by the frenzy of the fans.

Lennon said: “Robbie is experienced enough and will be looking forward to this match, he'll be very motivated.

“At times you can be too fired up, you have to tone things down a wee bit but Robbie is experienced enough to handle it.

“He's looking forward to the game, he's waited a long time to play in this fixture, it's a great game for him because the importance of it is mammoth.

“It'll be helter-skelter to start off with but once you get through that initial 15/20 minute period you have to try and stamp your authority on the game.”

Lennon added: “You need to feed off the atmosphere and enjoy it. It's very intense but you have to show controlled aggression.

“You can tell players all you want but until they go out there and experience it for themselves there's not really much you can do. Some will revel in it, some won't.

“The fans are all telling you to get stuck in but you just have to be professional in your own mind, keep a cool head and play the game.

“Obviously you are desperate to win the game but you have to be cold in your mind, in my experience the first goal is really important.

“Whoever gets the first goal in these games invariably goes on to win it or at least doesn't get beat.”

Four years ago at Ibrox Lennon lined up alongside Roy Keane as Celtic eased themselves towards the title thanks to a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Majik Zurawski.

The former Manchester United skipper strolled through that match with Lennon impressed by the clinical approach of his midfield partner.

Lennon recalled: “Roy Keane was one of the greatest players of his generation, it was just another big game in a catalogue of big matches for him.

“He was very calm in the dressing room, he wasn't a ranter or raver, he was mature enough by then to know better.

“Anything that he said was controlled, on the pitch he was a bit more aggressive but you are talking about a player with an unbelievable will to win.

“When I joined Celtic Martin O'Neill told me that my first game would be a blur and he was right.

“My first game against Rangers was a League Cup semi-final at Hampden, we won 3-1 and there was three players sent off!

“The first 45 minutes flew by, fortunately the next fixture was also against Rangers so I knew exactly what was coming and I was more prepared for it.

“Everyone handles things differently and I'm looking forward to seeing Robbie playing against Rangers."

Lennon rules out return of Reserve League

Neil Lennon has ruled out any move from Celtic to revive the SPL Reserves.

Celtic were against the demise of the Reserve League at the end of last season but after picking up the pieces and arranging a variety of friendlies Lennon doesn't see much purpose in a return to the old ways.

The weather at Shamrock Rovers Tallaght Stadium was much like Airdrie's New Broomfield on a Tuesday afternoon but with over 5,000 supporters present there was a good edge to the game.

It was the fifth time that Lennon has taken his development squad to Ireland this season with the former club captain delighted by the progress he's been witnessing.

"The fact that we are playing games like this rather than in the Reserve League I feel is far far more beneficial for everyone," Lennon admitted after the Shamrock Rovers match.

"I don't know how much we would gain out of a Reserve League.

"We've won it eight years in a row but there's been nothing (playerwise) knocking on the door for a while.

"This season we've gone to England to play Blackburn, Everton, Chelsea, Huddersfield and Newcastle.

"In Ireland we've played Cork, Drogheda and now Shamrock Rovers and the only disappointment for us this season was against Cliftonville when we lost 3-0 but we've not lost a game since then.

"We're making great inroads and I'm really pleased with the maturity and confidence of the players.

"They are playing against different opponents, Shamrock Rovers had a lot of mature experienced players and the English opponents that we've played have been good tests for our players."

Mixing together the needs of emerging u-19 players like Richie Towell and James Forrest with keeping up the fitness levels of Mark Wilson and Paul Caddis can be demanding.

American 'keeper Dominic Cervi, Lithuanian Anton Vallers and Filip Twardzik from the Czech Republic were amongst those involved against Shamrock Rovers as they attempt to develop their Celtic careers.

As a player Lennon led from the front with a verbal bite as sharp as his tackling and while he has to adapt a slightly softer approach to his coaching job he admits that it's impossible to forget the old ways.

"I don't think that you can change your spots," he added. "Sometimes I have to look at the players personalities and weight up what players can and can't take.

"Sometimes I get a good reaction from them and other times it's a bad reaction, I put that down to experience but I am what I am. I like to win and try to transmit that over to the players as well.

"I've got an interesting group of players to work with, we're trying to mold them into a unit while changing the team regularly.

"Jason Marr played his first full game in a while and Declan Gallagher also came in for his first match, there are some really good players bubbling under.

"They need wee reminders now and then but I try not to overload them with too much, I have to let them breathe and express themselves out on the pitch.

"The manager wants to see an expansive game and we encourage them to play as much as they can while working hard for the full 90 minutes.

"I'm enjoying this role more than I maybe anticipated, it's great to be helping players out as they start off in the game, we've got a lot of potential coming through at this club."

Delight for Lenny as striker Caddis earns Celtic a draw.

by Joe McHugh Paul Caddis was the unlikely goal hero as Celtic's development squad drew 1-1 with Shamrock Rovers.

After a day of heavy rain mixed with flurries of snow a near capacity crowd filled the Tallaght Stadium to watch a keenly contested draw in the battle of the hoops.

The traditional hoops of Shamrock Rovers took the lead through an eighth minute penalty put away by Stephen Bradley but Caddis equalised for the bumblebees midway through the second half.

Mark Wilson and Caddis were the only players to have started a first team match in the Celtic side with Neil Lennon as ever putting together a mixture of players at various stages in their career.

Sean Fitzharris was given his first outing at this level playing as a striker alongside Paul McGowan while Jason Marr made a welcome return to defence.

"I had a young team, my remit is to look at the younger players and this was a great exercise and experience for them," Neil Lennon said afterwards.

"It's good for them to play in front of a crowd against a well organised, mature team.

"We went a goal down early but showed a lot of patience to come back into the match, maybe we should have gone on to win it. There's a great desire about this group of players."

Giant American Dominic Cervi was in goals for Celtic with Wilson and Danny Lafferty at full-back either side of Declan Gallagher and Marr.

Local favourite Richie Forrest was partnered in centre midfield by Anton Vallers with Caddis playing wide right and James Keatings on the opposite flank behind a front two of McGowan and Fitzharris.

It took Celtic longer to adapt to the conditions which saw play bogged down by some surface water in certain areas but the ball skipping through in others.

Gallagher was judged to have fouled Graham Barrett in the eighth minute with Bradley burying the penalty kick.

Celtic's slick passing was finding difficulties in the tricky conditions but with two strikers under 5 ft 9 it would have been pointless to revert to the long ball.

Gradually Lennon's side worked their way into the match with the understanding between Caddis and McGowan carving out a couple of chances.

Caddis put in a couple of inswinging free-kicks from the left hand side that had the home defence in bother but there were few clear cut chances for goalkeeper Alan Mannus to deal with.

At the start of the second half Caddis and Keatings switched wings as the game opened up with Caddis and McGowan causing the Rovers defence all sorts of bother.

Ten minutes into the second period Caddis forced a good save from Mannus after playing a 1-2 with Wilson with McGowan testing the keeper four minutes later with a 20 yard drive.

After 68 minutes Filip Twardzik, wearing blue! boots, replaced Fitzharris with Caddis moving forward to partner McGowan and the substitute filling in in left midfield.

That change paid dividends in the 70th minute when McGowan picked up the ball midway inside the Rovers half the instantly passed to Caddis. The Scotland u-21 skipper found Wilson overlapping down the right then created space for himself in the box to tuck his shot beyong Mannus from the return pass.

Twardzik struck the bar with seven minutes left to play as Celtic chased a winner against their tiring opponents but no-one was unhappy that the match finished level.

STARING TEAM: Cervi; Wilson, Marr, D Gallagher (Tolmie 82), Lafferty; Caddis, Towell, Vallers (Grant 82), Keatings ( G Gallagher 77)); Fitzharris (F Twardzik 68), McGowan

FINISHING TEAM Cervi; G Gallagher, Tolmie, Marr, Lafferty; Wilson, Towell, Grant, Twardzik; Caddis, McGowan

Nine-in-a-row starts today

By Joe McHugh

Neil Lennon takes his first steps into management today when Celtic's reserve side faces Albion Rovers in the annual Jock Stein Friendship Cup.

2009 Reserve League Champions at Ibrox video

The greatest manager that the game has ever known, who turned a team into European Cup winners in just over two years, will be celebrated when the two Scottish teams that he played for meet up at Cliftonhill.

For Lennon it's the next inevitable step in the management business after being the most decorated Celtic player of his generation.

Gordon Strachan brought Lennon back to Celtic in March 2008, less than a year after his playing career ended, as Celtic dramatically clinched the title on the final day of the specially extended season against Dundee United.

Being a No. 2 or No.3 can be either a cushy number or thankless task depending on results but it's important for an aspiring manager to establish himself independently rather than being forever associated as part of the furniture trailing around two steps behind 'the boss'.

SPECULATION

There was some speculation, probably well founded, that Lennon may not fit in with the new management team of Tony Mowbray, Mark Venus and Peter Grant with Stockport County interested in seeing if Lennon was ready to start off as a manager in his own right.

Retaining Lennon provides Mowbray with an insight into the current Celtic dressing room and the lowdown on SPL opponents which could be priceless in the early months of the season.

Lennon, like any former Celt involved in management, would love one day to become manager of the club but knows that that incredible honour is given to few and is never decided on sentiment with various factors, circumstances and timing deciding who gets the call to lead Celtic.

After more than a season as first team coach Lennon steps out as a manager today at Albion Rovers with the difficult task of managing the reserves in a very uncertain climate.

Even before the crash of Setanta there were threats against the Reserve League with short sighted clubs squealing about the costs of fielding a team for 22 games a season!

INVESTMENT

With all the supposed investment in youth football going on throughout the game it shouldn't be too much of a burden for clubs to arrange three games a month to field first team fringe players and the best of their emerging talents.

Celtic have made the Reserve League their own over the last eight seasons whilst also being the dominant force in first team football. Those facts are not accidental.

Providing a platform for frustrated or injured first team players to return to top team action and another stepping stone forward for youth prospects is the main priority of the reserve side. And winning.

Predicting the make up of the reserve team is virtually impossible with 40 plus players likely to be used over the season.

UJPEST

The better players are likely to be sent out on loan with Ujpest Dozsa a likely destination while we'll soon find out if Tony Mowbray is as keen as Gordon Strachan to loan players out in the SPL where Cillian Sheridan, Paul McGowan, Scott Cuthbert and Paul Caddis spent the second part of last season.

Jason Marr and Danny Lafferty stepped comfortably into reserve team football last season where they formed the backbone of the title winning side alongside Paddy McCourt and Mark Millar.

Marr and Lafferty should continue with the reserves whilst it may be time for Millar and McCourt to move out on loan at the end of August if they aren't in and around the first team, Niall McGinn and Koki Mizuno could also be in that position.

Lennon's task is to keep these players motivated knowing that in all honesty playing for the reserves isn't what is required at this stage of their career.

Anything beyond two season's of reserve team football is of little use to players or coaches, the journey forward begins today at Albion Rovers as the new season gets underway.