AGENDA CLAIM AS LENNON BLASTS REF

HIBS manager Neil Lennon last night hit out at referee Bobby Madden and insists he is beginning to think there is an agenda among Scotland’s officials.

Madden turned down the visitors’ claims for a penalty when Mark Russell clearly handled a cross from Martin Boyle after 26 minutes of their 1-1 draw at Morton.

Hibs had a penalty given against them for handball against Lewis Stevenson when drawing at Dunfermline last weekend and Lennon cannot understand why Madden refused to give a similar award at Cappielow.

‘We had one last week with Lewis when his arm was in an unnatural position, so we accept it,’ said Lennon. ‘But, this week, their player used two hands to block a goalbound shot. I just don’t understand it.

‘Maybe there is an agenda, I don’t know. Maybe I’m getting paranoid. But I’m starting to think there is one.

‘We have had five red cards this season and three were rescinded. I don’t know of any team in one season — and we’re not even finished yet — who had three red cards rescinded. That has cost us points.’

Lennon did hug rival manager Jim Duffy and exchanged handshakes before the match. They embraced again on the touchline before leaving Cappielow.

Both face SFA charges at a hearing on April 20 following ugly scenes at the end of Morton’s visit to Easter Road 11 days ago, but Lennon now insists there is no bad blood between them.

‘Jim texted me (on Friday) and I got back to him this morning. We then had a chat before the game,’ he said.

Duffy, meanwhile, insisted he wants talk of continuing bad blood with Lennon to be put to bed.

He said: ‘It’s all water under the bridge. 100 per cent.’