LENNON CAUGHT COLD

Livi pile on misery for Celtic boss

NEIL LENNON says he will fight on as Celtic manager following another desperately disappointing result against Livingston, and insists that the club is not in crisis.

Lennon criticised the mentality and discipline of his players as captain Scott Brown got a quickfire red card in the 2-2 draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena, a result that leaves them 20 points behind Rangers at the top of the league with two games now left in hand.

Despite going four games without a win and admitting that the league may now be beyond them, Lennon refuted suggestions that Celtic are a now a “shambles”.

“It’s not hard to argue against that,” Lennon said. “This club has been at the top for a long, long time. We’re going through a difficult season. There’s an expectancy to win 10 in-a-row but it’s never guaranteed.

“Even when we won eight, people were talking about the 10. We had to go and win the nine, and we did that, but there was a lot of expectancy going into the season. It’s been disappointing, there’s no question about that, but the club isn’t a shambles – far from it – and it isn’t in crisis off the field.

“The board have been magnificent. They’ve presided over nine titles in a row and a quadruple Treble. That’s unheard of in any era of football.

“From my point of view, it’s not been good enough. I’ve been concerned about my position for a long time. I’ve won five trophies out of six so far. Maybe the league is beyond us, but I don’t think there’s been a balance, and that’s fine. I can take all that. One hundred percent [I’ve still got the fight].”