Neil Lennon’s Celtic comments after Hearts defeat will divide opinion, makes Dermot Desmond claim

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Neil Lennon isn’t in agreement with Celtic fans’ protest at club chiefs during the 2-0 defeat to Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday. 

When Brendan Rodgers watched the team lose to Kilmarnock on December 10, it was a result many saw coming because of past performances.

But the response from Celtic in the Champions League by beating Feyenoord was a positive one and a very good response from all, or so you thought!

However, all of that quickly turned on its head when Hearts were 2-0 up inside 45 minutes at the weekend, with the supporters then making their feelings clear in the second half as chants of ‘sack the board’ rung around the stadium. 

Bearing that in mind, Neil Lennon’s response to what happened at the weekend will divide opinion because he ‘doesn’t understand’ the reaction and he also warned ‘be careful what you wish for’, as he told PLZ Soccer.

Celtic’s majority shareholder, Dermot Desmond, was also defended by Neil Lennon, as he was keen to point out the success and dominance under him.

All in all, this doesn’t bode well for the team because this poor form is coming at the wrong time of the season.

Celtic fans sing ‘sack the board’

“I don’t think there is any need to panic,” said Lennon. “You look at the record, it’s the first time in ten years they have lost back-to-back games. The first time they have lost at home in 52 or something like that.

“It’s a really high bar and records are there to be broken. But you have to say the level of performance isn’t what we expect from Celtic, at the minute, so they are going to have to dig deep and galvanise everyone around.

“The fans need to now see that the team is going through a bit of adversity. This is where the team and the manager need their support rather than the other way around.

“I know there was some dissent towards the board. Again, I don’t understand because you just won a Treble last year. Since Dermot has come in, it has been total domination for 20-odd years. Six Trebles. Europa Leagues. Three last-16s. I could go on. 

“Sometimes, you have to be careful what you wish for – (But) Rodgers has to roll up his sleeves and get more out of this team.”

Win against Rangers needed

This group of players have already proven that they can beat Rangers, and that with a second-string side, as they did at Ibrox earlier on in the campaign.

Well, more than ever before, three points is a must at Celtic Park on December 30.

If that happens, then regardless of what Rangers do with their games in hand, the Bhoys will be top heading into the New Year.

Of course, the likes of Livingston and Dundee have to be dealt with before then because you feel Rodgers can’t afford any slip-ups anymore.