Celtic v Hibernian: Neil Lennon taking calmer approach on touchline but fire within still burns brightly

NEIL Lennon spoke yesterday of having taken notice of his own behaviour on the touchline, but admitted that the passion still burns inside him.

That much was evident on Wednesday night at Easter Road, when the Celtic manager was seen exchanging heated words with red-carded Hibernian winger Ivan Sproule during the visitors’ 4-1 win in the quarter-final of the Scottish Communities League Cup.

“My demeanour has probably been a bit more calm this year,” Lennon said, as the sides prepare to meet again today at Celtic Park.

“But I didn’t like the follow through on the tackle and I reacted to that, it was my natural instinct.

“It’s nothing to do with Ivan Sproule, it’s just that I will voice my opinion on any tackle I see. The players have passion in abundance and I think they look after themselves very well as a team. They showed plenty of character in recent weeks, there is no doubt about that.”

The former Celtic skipper has not been surprised by the level of scrutiny he has been put under in the job.

“It is the nature of the beast,” he said. “You are analysed in every facet of the game like selections, tactics, in every game. There is not a minute of the day when you don’t analyse it.

“You go to bed at night thinking about it, get up in the morning thinking about it. Do you change the way you manage? Do you change your approach? And then you look back at last season and think that you didn’t do a lot wrong.

“There were areas you could improve on but if you stick with what you believe in, you know that you will get it right but with a job like this you have to get it right quicker than other people.

“I’m not saying I am through it, there is a gap to close on the leaders but I believe we can do that. And the fact that we are still going strong in all competitions, with the players we have had missing, pleases me immensely.” Meanwhile, goalkeeper Fraser Forster says he has come to accept the fact that the only constant in the Celtic defence this season has been change.

Injuries and loss of form have forced Lennon to tinker with his back four on an almost game-by-game basis. And with stand-in skipper Charlie Mulgrew recovered from an ankle knock, there could be changes again today.

“Ideally you would want to try to keep the same back four as much as you can,” said Forster. “But we have had a lot of injuries this season and the back four has changed so much but whoever has come in to play has done a terrific job.

“Thomas Rogne came in on Wednesday night and was absolutely superb. We didn’t have the injuries last season but things change in football and you have to get on with it and do your best.”

Forster made a couple of crucial saves on Wednesday night, when Celtic were losing 1-0. However, the big goalkeeper insists he will gladly play the role of spectator today.

“I would prefer never to touch the ball if I’m honest,” he said. “It is always nice to make saves. But at the end of the day that is what I am paid to do.”