Keith Lasley ignoring pressures on Neil Lennon

KEITH Lasley insists Motherwell will take no notice of the mounting pressure on Celtic manager Neil Lennon when the Parkhead side travel to Lanarkshire on Sunday.

The Parkhead club have fallen 12 points behind SPL leaders Rangers and three behind the second-placed Steelmen, albeit Celtic have a game in hand over both clubs.

Defeat in Lanarkshire could spell the end for the Irishman but Lasley, 32, at Fir Park to collect his Clydesdale Bank Premier League player of the month award, claims Lennon’s possible fate should not effect Stuart McCall’s side.

“No, I hope not,” said the former Plymouth midfielder. “It shouldn’t really. It is up to us to do what we have to do. You are always aware that Old Firm managers are always under pressure. If they lose one game they are under pressure and I don’t think you need to tell Neil Lennon that. He has been at the club long enough to know that is the case.

“But we are focused on what we are doing, that is all we are in control of. We are under the radar and that’s the way we like it and we hope it stays that way.

“We know the focus is always going to be on the Old Firm teams and we are quite happy with that. If we play to our maximum we can give most teams a game, especially here.

“If we are not at our best we won’t win the match, it is as simple as that, so it is up to us to focus on the way we can play.”