Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Lennon attacks Hearts approach
NEIL Lennon has accused Hearts of trying to kick his Hibernian players off the park.
Lennon was angry with the officials’ failure to see Oli Shaw’s shot bounce over the line during Wednesday’s goalless draw at Tynecastle but he was also frustrated by their opponents’ approach.
The Hibs head coach was visibly exasperated at a number of fouls against his team — 11 in the first half alone — with Jamie Walker, Kyle Lafferty and David Milinkovic booked for the hosts before the break.
Lennon said: “It was the same at Easter Road, we outplayed them but they kicked us off the park, and they were trying to do the same thing again.
“Stevenson t ook t wo heavy ones, John McGinn — I don’t know how Walker stays on the pitch.
“It’s not tackling, it’s just booting people, or pushing them or going into the back of people or going in late.
“But my players stood up brilliantly to it so I’m very proud of them.
“Physically they looked strong and we l ooked a threat.
“We could have done better i n the final third, second half at times on the counter-attack, but my back four dealt with anything Hearts threw at us.”
Lennon, whose team had Marvin Bartley booked, added: “If that’s the way they want to play, that’s their prerogative , but we cer tainly don’t g et bullied.
“These players have got a good mentality when it comes to these games.”