Lenny: There might be agenda

HIBERNIAN head coach Neil Lennon could be in disciplinary trouble again after accusing referees of having an agenda against his side.

Lennon was left fuming after referee Bobby Madden refused to award the Hibees a penalty during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Morton.

The Northern Irishman – already facing a ban after last month’s much-publicised touchline bust-up with Morton boss Jim Duffy – reacted angrily when Mark Russell’s apparent 27th-minute handball inside the penalty area went unpunished.

Hibs went on to take the lead thanks to a classy finish from red-hot striker Jason Cummings before Madden did point to the spot just after the hour mark – only this time the decision went for the hosts when Darren McGregor dragged down Jamie McDonagh.

Lawrence Shankland levelled from the resulting spot-kick for Morton but Hibs remain on course for the Championship title with a nine-point lead.

But that did nothing to calm Lennon.

Lennon said: “I don’t get it. Maybe there is an agenda, I don’t know. Maybe I’m getting paranoid. Their player used two hands to block a goal-bound shot. I just don’t understand it.

“I’ve no qualms with the penalty Morton got but everyone could see what happened with the other incident.

“I need an explanation but I’ll not get one. It’ll be: ‘It’s poor old Lenny being the victim again’.

“But I’m starting to think that there is an agenda.

“We have had five red cards this season and three were rescinded – I wonder if that’s a record.

“I don’t know of any team in one season – and we’re not even finished yet – who have had three red cards rescinded. That’s cost us points.

“I just didn’t like the referee’s performance and I want an explanation because it’s not one hand that’s stopped the shot, it’s two hands.”