THE BATTLE OF EASTER ROAD!
By BRIAN MARJORIBANKS Night of shame but no need for politicians to get involved this time
THE last time Scottish football witnessed a touchline rammy to rival the scenes at Easter Road on Wednesday night, there were government inquiries and top-level summits as our game was put under the political microscope like never before.
If there is any blessing to come from the Brexit debate and the calls for a second independence referendum, it is that both will ensure our politicians are too busy to poke their noses once again into matters on — and just off — the pitch.
There was a palpable sense of déjà vu on Wednesday as a mass brawl broke out just as the clock was ticking down on a drab goalless draw between Hibs and Morton.
It was the most serious melee at the ground since George McCluskey had his leg sliced open by a horror tackle by player-manager Graeme Souness on his Rangers debut in 1986.
But the chaotic scenes in Leith brought back memories of the Old Firm ‘Shame Game’ of April 2011, when Lennon went nose-to-nose with Ally McCoist.
The villain of the piece then was the volatile figure of El Hadji Diouf — the Rangers striker having riled Lennon enough to see the Celtic boss react while McCoist, No2 to Walter Smith at the time, suggested that he should mind his own business at the end of the 1-0 win for the Parkhead side.
Looking back now, it was no more confrontational than some heated finger-pointing but still our ruling classes got involved. Don’t expect the same this time.
Wednesday’s events in the capital were more ferocious, but the reaction may not reflect that.
‘It’s a different thing (to 2011),’ said Lennon, who will appeal the red card shown to Darren McGregor. ‘All I did was shout at a player who tried to really hurt one of my players. Then to compound it, he gets my captain sent off by play-acting.
‘If you’ve got a wave of people coming at you — and you’ve not done anything wrong — you will stand your ground.’
In the role of Diouf in Leith was Morton substitute Kudus Oyenuga, who flattened Jordon Forster on the touchline before feigning being headbutted as he was confronted by irate Hibs captain McGregor.
As Lennon roared his fury towards Oyenuga, Duffy charged across to defend his player. A mass shoving match took place between both sets of players and rival dugouts before Lennon and Duffy were ordered to the stands. Oyenuga and McGregor were also red-carded. In a remarkable aftermatch interview, Lennon accused Duffy of asking him for a ‘square go’ and said he had refused to back down with the Morton boss, his assistant Craig McPherson and their players ‘all coming at me’. ‘I’ve got a lot of time for Jim,’ added Lennon. ‘He is a good guy but I’m not having that and I’m not having his assistant manager having a go as well. And then their players coming over when Jordon is lying on the ground? Who knows how badly injured he was.
‘Thankfully, there was nothing broken in his leg but he damaged his shoulder badly.
‘The ref said he will put in a report, so we will wait and see what it says and then deal with it.
‘But if they throw the book at me and Jim, they should throw the book at his assistant (McPherson) too — but Oyenuga more than anything because he started it all! It was a disgrace.’
For his part, Duffy yesterday insisted he ‘categorically did not ask for a ‘square go’, adding: ‘Yes, I acted immaturely but I’m not 12 years old.’
For seasoned observers, the incident was another illustration that, when it comes to Scottish football, logic and common sense often fly out the window.
‘Jim said it was handbags and it probably was,’ said man of many dugouts Sandy Clark, currently No 2 at Dunfermline. ‘I know Neil well and I’ve got to say that I get on well with him — he’s had a successful season and they will win the league.
‘I’ve also known Jim a long, long time and they both showed incredible passion, and that’s what it is for me.
‘In the media, TV especially, it won’t look too good and they’ll both be a wee bit embarrassed when they look back on it. But if you don’t have passion, then you shouldn’t be in this game.
‘The tackle wasn’t a good tackle — did he deliberately try and hurt the lad? The only person that can answer that is the Morton player.’
Amid all the claim and counterclaims, one thing is certain; a mass melee between Hibs and Morton won’t prompt a Holyrood summit. There is not the same political capital to be gained from taking the moral high ground over a top-of-the-table Scottish Championship clash.
The events of Wednesday will go through the SFA disciplinary processes, rightly unimpeded by any hysteria as compliance officer Tony McGlennan sifts through all the footage.
For Lennon, it is the second time this month his behaviour has been scrutinised, although McGlennan ruled there was no case to answer after he was sent to the stand in Hibs’ 1-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.
The added intrigue is that the two sides face off again in Greenock a week tomorrow.
‘I’m looking forward to it,’ said Lennon. ‘Will I speak to them prior to that to take the sting out of it? No! We didn’t do anything wrong.’