Lennon hails players’ character in dealing with all that is thrown at them

Neil Lennon has praised Hibernian’s “temperament” and “steeliness” as they prepare for Friday’s Edinburgh derby clash with bitter rivals Hearts.

The Easter Road outfit host theircityfoeswithanine-point advantage in the Premiership table and will be seeking the victory that would strengthen their bid for a top-three finish this season.

A win would also rubbish the claims of Hearts head coach Craig Levein that “natural order” had been restored in the capital in the wake of his side’s dramatic 1-0 Scottish Cup triumph at Tynecastle in January.

In both that tie and the previous league fixture in December, which finished goalless, good football was at a premium as the players fought

0 Neil Lennon: Wanted ‘steel’. for city supremacy. However, Lennon, who previously criticised Hibs for suffering from a “boy-band mentality” in the past, believes his players have shown this season they can cope with whatever they encounter during games.

He said: “I’m very, very pleased with the temperament of the squad and the character they’ve shown this season.

“I think in a lot of games we’ve been a goal down or we’ve conceded the first goal, and bounced back to either get something out of the game or go on to win it.

“I think that speaks volumes for the character and personality we have within the group.

“[When I came to the club] I was just trying to find that steeliness, and I think there’s plenty of it in there now.

“We’recertainlyabletoscrap out games very, very well, which may have been a criticism of us before.

“That’s not something I’ve brought. You pass on your own experiences, but I think the players have taken it on very, very well.” Pep Guardiola has admitted a Football Association charge of “wearing a political message”.

The Manchester City manager has accepted that his wearing of a yellow ribbon on the touchline in recent months is a breach of the governing body’s kit and advertising regulations.

However, it is understood Guardiola’s response is one of observing – rather than respecting – the rules of the country he is working in and has not apologised.

The 47-year-old has been wearing the ribbon in support of political leaders jailed following the Catalonia independence referendum last October, which was declared illegal by Spain.

The Catalan-born City boss, a former Barcelona manager and captain, has argued that the symbol is not political but he will now stop wearing it on the touchline.

Guardiola will make a written submission for a disciplinary hearing, on a date yet to be arranged.

An FA statement read: “Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted an FA charge for wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon, in breach of the FA’S kit and advertising regulations. A paper hearing has been requested, with a date to be set in due course.”

Guardiola, who could face a fine, ignored two warnings from the FA before being charged.

The yellow emblem worn by Guardiola during Sunday’s Premier League win over Chelsea was the daffodil of the Marie Curie cancer charity.

Meanwhile, FA chief executive Martin Glenn has apologised after being criticised for his “illjudged”, “offensive” and “inappropriate” explanation of his organisation’s response to the yellow ribbon.

In trying to justify the FA’S decision to charge Guardiola, Glenn appeared to equate the Star of David with a swastika.

Glenn yesterday issued an apology, which has been accepted by the Jewish Leadership Council.