It’s probably just as well Neil Lennon has amassed a few quid from a successful playing career and his time in football management, as it appears going from his Talksport appearance this morning, whilst he can pick out a winning bet, the odds are likely to be somewhat prohibitive when it comes to a decent return.
The former Celtic boss joined The Sport Breakfast host Alan Brazil, alongside former Rangers striker and Basket of Assets manager Ally McCoist, to preview Sunday’s Glasgow Derby League Cup Final.
And it all kicked off with Brazil asking “What time do you get the penalty, do I go first half or second half?, with McCoist responding : “No it’s later this cup final. Tavernier nets his penalty in the 74th minute.”
Alan Brazil then moved to ask Lennon for his thoughts on the matter asking the Treble winning player and manager- “Lenny, what do we do with these refs?” and Lennon, perhaps only slightly in jest replied “I would do a double. Penalty for (the)Rangers and a red card for Celtic. I’d be all over that.”
It’s certainly a good bet, and indeed that very scenario occurred in the last League Cup final meeting between the sides, when Christopher Jullien netted the winner from a Ryan Christie set-piece in a rope a dope performance from Lennon’s side, with Jeremie Frimpong conceding the penalty before being sent off, only for Morelos to see his penalty saved by the man who Celtic fans would name the final after – Fraser Forster. So perhaps his own experience has led Lennon to land on his sure-fire double.
However as everyone knows there is no such thing as a skint bookmaker, so before anyone joins Lennon in putting a few quid on his pre-match prediction, it’s worth remembering, whilst it may return you the price of a post-match celebratory pint or two, sadly this month’s bills will still need to be paid.
Niall J
