The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Lennon’s emotions run high in 10-goal thriller
Neil Lennon says he should escape punishment for his on-pitch celebration after seeing his side seal a 5-5 draw against Rangers after accusing the Rangers support of targeting him with sectarian chants.
The Northern Irishman darted on to the Leith pitch after Jamie Maclaren levelled up an incredible affair in stoppage time.
He was quickly ushered down the tunnel by fourth official Bobby Madden before the final whistle blew.
The incident is likely to see Lennon – already sitting on a suspended twomatch ban after his bust-up with referee Kevin Clancy at Rugby Park in February – land in fresh bother.
But the Hibs boss insists his aeroplanestyle celebration was merely his response to the taunts aimed at him from the away end.
“Well they make it personal don’t they?” he said. “You all hear it. They are singing sectarian songs at me. It’s just a little bit of ‘have some of that’.
“It was worth it. Trust me. Bobby was fine about it. I should not get a ban for that.
“I was just letting them know how pleased I was to get the equaliser.
“I enjoyed the moment. It was a big jumbo jet there.”
The build-up to the last-day clash had been dominated by Lennon’s threat to quit his job following Hibs’ midweek defeat to Hearts.
But the former Celtic boss admitted he had “spat the dummy” after that derby defeat before reiterating his commitment to the Leith cause.
After seeing his side end the campaign in fourth spot, he said: “There has been speculation, but I caused the speculation. There’s no issue with the board.
“I wanted to break into that bracket of Aberdeen and Rangers and we have come up short.
“Fourth is acceptable for some people, not for me.”
Lennon’s summary of the action as “absolutely bonkers” just about summed up as astonishing game.
Gers looked like they were set to be blown away as Florian Kamberi, Scott Allan and Jamie Maclaren put Hibs 3-0 up after a 22-minute blitz.
That left the hosts needing just three more goals to steal third place from the Ibrox men on a final day packed with drama.
But the Light Blues mounted a stunning fightback with strikes from James Tavernier, Jordan Rossiter, Bruno Alves, Jason Holt and Josh Windass.
However, another Maclaren goal sent Gers’ nerves jangling and with Jimmy Nicholl’s men down to 10 after seeing Holt sent off late on, Hibs’ on-loan Darmstadt frontman prodded home at the death to the delight of his manager.
Gers had to better Aberdeen’s result at Celtic Park to claim second spot but it is the Dons who finish runners-up after a 1-0 win in Glasgow.