WHERE’S THE PARTY?
I WANT TO HAVE IT AT YOUR PLACE NO THANKS ...HAVE IT v RANGERS LENNON
NEIL LENNON has enjoyed enough title parties with Celtic to last a lifetime so he has no intention of hosting another one tomorrow. The Hibs manager used to be the life and soul of these celebrations during his success-laden time at Parkhead, both as a player and boss. But now he’s on a mission to become a party pooper when his old club roll up to Easter Road at lunchtime seeking the three points they need to sew up a seventh successive championship. It’s inevitable the champagne corks will be popping soon but Lennon would rather Celts kept it chilled for another week at least because his Hibs side have their own challenge to chase. The battle to be best of the rest behind the Hoops is very much undecided and with Hibs trailing second-placed Rangers and Aberdeen by three points he knows the early kick-off offers a golden opportunity to turn up the heat on his rivals. Lennon grinned and said: “I’ve had enough title parties! I’ve had plenty and they are great days but I don’t want one at our expense. They can win it next week. “For the team going for the title, momentum is with you. But sometimes, because you can almost touch it, there is an anxiety and they are in a rush to get there. “I am sure Brendan Rodgers will want it done tomorrow and they will want it out the way but we all know they are going to win it eventually and we have a lot to play for too.
“So we are not just going to make it a day out for Celtic.
“It will help with the atmosphere. Celtic will have a big support and it might feel like an away game at times but we have to deal with that.” With the SPFL BY EUAN McLEAN seemingly desperate to avoid the possibility of Celtic clinching success against Rangers, much was made of the decision to give the Hoops their shot at glory in Edinburgh before the derby.
But Lennon didn’t take offence at that and argues his side have already proved Celtic can’t expect a stroll to silverware having drawn 2-2 with them home and away this season.
“I don’t think we have been treated as an afterthought, it is just how the fixtures came out and we’re looking forward to it.
“The team’s mentality has been good in these big games and they have believed in themselves. They have gone out on the front foot and taken the game to the opposition.
“It is every exciting and obviously we don’t want Celtic to win the title at our ground because we have our own priorities and we want the points.”
After a wretched weekend for Aberdeen and Rangers saw them dumped out the Scottish Cup semi-finals in humbling fashion there’s a train of thought Hibs are now the strongest bet of the three.
Rangers are fighting among themselves, Dons boss Derek McInnes has branded the players he signed not good enough – while Hibs are riding a wave of positive momentum having only lost one of their last 14 league matches.
Yet Lennon still thinks the trials of the other two teams could make them more dangerous in the remaining five games.
He added: “I’m not convinced the semi-finals will have a huge impact on the coming matches. Yes, for a couple of days they will be down about it but Derek will pick them up. Derek has come out and criticised the players and they have to be big enough to accept that. They let the manager and the club down.
“I have come out and criticised players before, criticised the team, criticised myself and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. If they aren’t big enough to take that they are no good to me.
“Jose Mourinho does it, all managers do it, and that is why there are big players at big clubs because they can take the thick with the thin and Derek will be looking for a reaction.
“Rangers have had a tumultuous week but sometimes you get a bit of strength through adversity and they will come again.
“I think we need to win four games to finish second but it’s a big ask. If we do that we’ll give ourselves a big chance.
“I have always believed we can do it. I said at the start of the season it would be Celtic then Aberdeen and Rangers and then the rest of us fighting it out.
“We now have a chance to break into that second bracket and if we play the way we have been there is no reason we can’t do that.”
Lennon welcomed the news defender Paul Hanlon has signed a new four -ear deal and said: “I’m delighted as he deserves it.
“He’s been tremendously consistent for me over the last two years and tremendously consistent over the last 10 years.
“He’s getting better. At 28 he’s coming into his peak years so it’s great business for the club. He’s very content and has been outstanding this season.”
NEIL LENNON ‘If Rangers take the side of an Under-20s coach out of his depth they may find a season ticket fightback by the fans’
reputation as a manager but no other club will touch him now.”
said: “Who are these two mediocre players saying the board should have backed them over the manager?
“Miller and Wallace should be shown the door for gross misconduct. Murty might be inexperienced but he has stepped up and these players haven’t.”
But said: “The problem with Murty was he didn’t know his best team. If ever a game needed Josh Windass, Jason Cummings, Kenny Miller and Jason Holt it was Sunday. Instead he played a team of pussycats with tactics we’ve never used with before.”
said: “Why take off a player five minutes before half-time unless he was injured? He should have waited until the break and spoken to Andy Halliday but instead chose to humiliate him in front of the whole of Hampden.”
said: “I can’t believe Miller and Wallace have been suspended for making obviously forceful comments about the total shambles of Sunday’s performance.
“They are showing what the guys on the park didn’t do which was a desire to play and pride in wearing the jersey. If Rangers take the side of an Under-20s coach out of his depth they may find a season-ticket fightback by fans.”
What now for Gers? said: “It’s great to see Alex Neil and Steve Clarke emerge as favourites for the job. It’s sad to see Miller and Wallace leave under such circumstances but to bad-mouth your manager in front of colleagues shows a complete lack of respect for the club.
“I suspect Halliday will be next out the door.” CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY FROM 11 TILL 12 NOON on: 0141 309 3306 or email us: hotline@dailyrecord.co.uk