Hearts v Celtic – ‘There’s been a few distasteful moments,’ Lenny on Scotland’s dirty little secret

MUCH has been written and said across the airwaves about the Green Brigade holding up a banner directed at Rod Stewart at the weekend while they were singing ‘Grace’, the beautiful, sad Irish love song that the Ultras group introduced to the Celtic song-book and which the ageing rock star covered on one of his recent albums.

Much less has been said about the Hearts fans who this evening will get their latest opportunity to welcome Neil Lennon back to Tynecastle.

Just over a year ago year, while managing Hibs, Lennon had to endure this ahead of an Edinburgh derby.

Scotland’s dirty little secret

The was of course the incident when he was attacked and assaulted on the touchline while managing Celtic the first time around and the subsequent court case produced what was regarded by some as a surprise outcome. Few Celtic supporters were that surprised though.

Lenny was also hit with coins at Tynecastle while on the touchline as Hibs manager and abused when visiting there on a scouting mission, although bizarrely that was at a League Cup semi-final between Aberdeen and St Johnstone.

It’s fair to say though that Neil Lennon, whenever he goes to Tynecastle seems to bring out the worst in the opposition’s support. Anyone got any idea why that is?

It’s Scotland’s dirty little secret.

Talking of our country, and changing the subject for a minute, have you seen this “Performance in San Sebastian (Basque Country) for Scotland and Catalonia”? It’s brilliant and well worth a watch…

Back to Neil Lennon and Tynecastle. The Celtic manager was asked about the hostility he has experienced there over the years, ahead of taking his league leaders there this evening.

“Will they weigh on my mind? Not really, no. I think, in essence, it’s normally a really great atmosphere and a good venue to play football.

“There’s been a few distasteful moments, but you just have to get on with the job and on with the game. I’ve got more important things to be thinking about than that,” Lenny stated, as reported by Glasgow Times.

“It’s Tynecastle, we know it will be a tough game at a tough venue. We know the importance of the game, and we know that if we win, we’ll be five points clear. That’s all the incentive we need really.

“I know they’re in a bit of turmoil really, and that they are in a bit of transition between managers. It may take him a bit of time to get his ideas across, but it’s still a tough place to go.

Mikey Johnston picked up a knock in Cluj and won’t feature tonight

“Ryan Christie trained on Monday so he will be back in the squad, and Jonny Hayes trained too, so we’ll see if there’s any reaction. Mikey didn’t train, so we’ll see how he is, while Elyounoussi will still be a week or two. Mikey picked up a wee strain in Cluj, it’s not major at all, so if he isn’t fit for Wednesday he will be for the weekend.”

Tynecastle was also the venue for Lenny’s first match back in charge of Celtic in late February this year after Brendan Rodgers walked out on the club to join Leicester City ahead of a crucial Edinburgh double header against Hearts in the league and then Hibs at Easter Road in the Scottish Cup.

A couple of defeats would have wrecked the Treble Treble and could have also opened up the league to the Rangers. And that would have ended Lenny’s chances of getting the job on a permanent basis, a target he reached when Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond visited the Celtic changing rooms at Hampden after the Treble Treble was indeed won in the 2-1 Scottish Cup final win over tonight’s hosts.

Give and Take

Lenny yesterday looked back on that first game back in charge of Celtic and compared the situation with that game with tonight’s where he has now had the chance to turn this into his side, not Brendan Rodgers’.

“I think I have a little bit more time to work with them, get to know them and them get to know me!

“It was amazing. I did the press conference at Celtic Park and then met the squad. I met most of them for the first time that night. You were then straight into the game the next day, but sometimes that’s a good thing when you don’t have too much time to think about it,” Lenny said.

Celtic joy after Odsonne Edouard’s last minute winner at Tynecastle in February this year

And recalling the dramatic finish to that match he had this to say: “I’m not over keen on last-minute goals, but you take them. It shows the mentality of the team at times. I thought we had decent control in that game in the first half, but then we just got a bit sloppy and we had to dig out a great result. We went on to the quarter final (against Hibs at Easter Road) on the Saturday and played really well there.”

ALSO ON THE CELTIC STAR…

Oh My Celtic Days – Tierney comparison a huge compliment for Frimpong but there are lessons there…see HERE.

‘You make those sacrifices to get those rewards,’ McGregor on Celtic’s hectic Festive Fixture List…see HERE.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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