BIG TURN OF PACE AS HOOPS FINALLY FIND

Celtic 1 Aberdeen

WATCHING TV coverage of the cricket and rugby internationals at the weekend confirmed a long-held suspicion. The knowledge, insight and lack of partisanship

from ex-cricketers shames many of the footballers turned pundits who sound like they have rolled up at the studio without research, believing the medals they won years ago are

all the viewer really needs to care about.

And the rugby referees, who are mic’d up so we can hear their decision-making, exude control, authority and

consistency thus earning the respect of the players.

Is it really too hard for football to copy both and enhance the viewing experience?

JOHN KENNEDY heaped praise on Celtic’s underfire boss Neil Lennon for keeping calm in the crisis that has engulfed the Hoops as their 10-in-a-row dream imploded.

Lennon led his side to their fifth straight win last night but the champions trail Rangers by a massive 15 points.

And his No.2 knows that while the title is all but gone, his gaffer has worked tirelessly to steady a ship that looked holed below the waterline.

The victory also consigned the Dons to an unwanted record of six games without a goal for the first time in their history - a landmark that boss Derek Mcinnes admits hurts everyone at the club.

Celtic, too, are hurting but Kennedy believes Lennon is leading them into a better place. He said: “Neil has been terrific. He has come under a lot of pressure and scrutiny.

“But he’s a terrific guy, a terrific manager and works hard. He spends a lot of time at the training ground.

“We do a lot of work together and we aren’t shying away and saying the season has been fine. It hasn’t and we have underperformed. We have had a high bar in terms of what everyone expects and we haven’t quite got to the level we have wanted to or expected to.

“Neil has been great with myself and the staff. He has been very calm too. In the past, Neil was fiery and emotional but he has stayed very calm.”

Kennedy also believes David Turnbull, who notched a superb winner last night, has forced himself into Scotland consideration on the back of recent displays.

He added: “I wouldn’t rule it out. Steve will have a lot of decisions to make with his