Criticism after Pittodrie loss maybe too harsh: Lennon

Boss Neil Lennon admits he was too critical of his Hibernian players following their 4-1 defeat at Aberdeen on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman was furious after an “abject” and “unacceptable” display at Pittodrie and claimed that Cowdenbeath – bottom of League 2 – would have beaten them.

However, Lennon was calmer at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow to promote a Legends of Football event in which he will appear in January alongside his former Celtic team-mate turned pundit, Chris Sutton.

Asked if he felt he had been harsh on his players, who sit fourth in the Ladbrokes Premiership in their first season back in the top flight, he said: “Probably yes, in the cold light of day. I might have been too hard on them but I expect a lot from them.

“They put a lot into the game on Wednesday (2-1 defeat against Rangers) and maybe on reflection that took too much out of them.

“Sometimes it is hard (to hold yourself back). I don’t mind losing but it was the manner of it. We looked very lethargic, very flat and lacked a competitive edge but that has not been like that but maybe after a few days, there is mitigating factors.

“But we are not making excuses, we didn’t play well enough but in the previous two games we were outstanding.”

Lennon, whose side host Ross County on Saturday, revealed that goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw might require an operation on a shoulder problem but refused to confirm reports that Dundee’s out-offavour keeper Scott Bain is on his radar.

He said: “You can throw a lot of names at me. I am not going to talk about players who are contracted to clubs.

“We have a number of options in a number of positions. I have two very good goalkeepers. Ross Laidlaw may have to have surgery so that is the reason why we may be looking at a goalkeeping option but Ofir Marciano will still be number one.”

Hibs boss Neil Lennon was furious after display against Aberdeen.