Derby drama sends ratings through Sky
TWO words – natural order. Here’s another two – cue mayhem.
Craig Levein’s barbed comment after Hearts’ 1-0 Scottish Cup win over Hibs in January incensed Neil Lennon who claimed the “gloves are off”.
It just serves to show why Sky Sports have won a watch this weekend when it comes to covering our game.
The Old Firm clash will take care of itself and tonight’s grudge match in Edinburgh is going to be a voyeur’s dream.
I’m loving the new-look Levein. Quite simply, the revamped version clearly does not give a monkey’s who he riles up.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, Hoops skipper Scott Brown and Lenny have all felt the brunt of Levein’s ire and quirky humour this season.
He’s clearly done with making friends in the management game.
As for his counterpart Lennon, what a job he has done in Hibs’ first season in the top flight after a three-year exile.
The Jambos have been left in their slipstream as nine points separate fourth-placed Hibs and Hearts down in sixth.
Levein’s side may have produced the result of the season when they ended Celtic’s Invincible run at 69 matches with December’s 4-0 thumping at Tynecastle.
But it is Lenny’s outfit who have produced the results of the season given they’ve twice gone to Ibrox and won, drawn twice with Celtic and beaten both Hearts and Aberdeen at Easter Road.
Levein may well be bumping his gums ahead of tonight’s contest but it is Lennon’s team who have done all their talking on the park.
Three weekends ago I took in a mediocre 1-1 draw between Alex Neil’s Preston and top-of-thetable Wolves in the English Championship.
In the same week I enjoyed Kilmarnock’s thrilling 3-2 win over Dundee at Rugby Park as Steve Clarke’s 10 men came from behind. It is the best match I’ve seen all season. Sky can package the overhyped English Championship in whatever way they want.
The truth is many of the games down south can’t hold a candle to the product in this country.
In a nutshell the two differences are money and perception.
Look at Scottish football right now. Celtic are going for historic back-to-back Trebles under Rodgers. Rangers are getting up a head of steam under Graeme Murty. Aberdeen have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with under Derek McInnes. And Hibs and Hearts have been utterly rejuvenated under Lennon and Levein.
The Cinderella story to top them all has been the impact Clarke has made at Kilmarnock.
It is astounding to think Clarke has guided them into fifth when he
Many of the games down south can’t hold a candle to the product in Scotland
inherited a team bottom of the Premiership pile.
If Preston v Wolves is the best the second tier in England has to offer then you can keep it. Give me Scottish football any day of the week.
Which is why it would be a much poorer environment without the likes of Lennon and Levein.
They never tire of talking our product up. They also love a wind-up.
For anyone who thinks the behaviour of the pair in the aftermath of the last Edinburgh derby and the lead up to tonight’s match has been less than exemplary, another two words – box office.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Lennon and Levein.