Lennon makes call for consistency after referee denies handball claim

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon believes his team were victims of inconsistency among Scottish referees as they slipped to only their fifth SPL defeat of the season yesterday.

Dundee United recorded their first victory over Celtic since November 2009, courtesy of Scott Robertson’s 21st-minute header, which proved the only goal of a tame encounter at Tannadice.

Lennon, who was also critical of his players’ approach to the match, was upset at referee Iain Brines’ refusal to award Celtic a penalty with 15 minutes remaining when a cross from Emilio Izaguirre appeared to strike the arm of United player Keith Watson.

According to Lennon, the offence was identical to the incident in the Scottish Cup semi-final last month when referee Euan Norris awarded Hearts a late penalty kick for handball against Victor Wanyama.

Craig Beattie scored the winner from Hearts from the spot on that occasion, prompting an angry Lennon to confront Norris on the pitch after the full-time whistle.

He received a three-match touchline ban from the SFA last week for that breach of disciplinary rules, with a further three matches suspended.

Lennon chose his words carefully yesterday when asked about the penalty claim but made it clear he felt Celtic have been on the wrong end of rough justice.

“You tell me,” replied Lennon. “What do you want me to do, criticise the referee? I’ve got a three-game ban hanging over me already.

“What is the difference between the penalty given against us in the semi-final and that handball today? You have to ask the referee that, or you guys need to ask the question. But then I’m going to get accused of being a sore loser and blaming referees.

“That’s not the point. What I want is an answer and I don’t feel I get them. I haven’t asked him [Brines]. He will just say it wasn’t a penalty. I want to know the difference, that’s the question I’m asking.

“I might have to ring [SFA head of referees] John Fleming tomorrow and ask him what the difference is.

“If the one given against us in the semi-final is a penalty, then that one today has to be a penalty as well. You’ve got to be consistent.”

Lennon, however, did not regard the decision as an excuse for a lacklustre performance by Celtic. “I’m not happy with the attitude of some of the players out there today,” he said. “Some of them are in holiday mode already.

“If you dissect the game, Dundee United sat in to hold on. But with the amount of possession we had, particularly in the final third, we were wasteful with the ball. We should have scored.

“I don’t remember my goalkeeper making a save in the whole game. In terms of possession, we were well on top. We just lacked that final ball and final finish.

“We were a little bit slack, taking too many touches on the ball at times. We weren’t moving the ball quickly enough.

“Then, there was the amount of times we got into wide areas in the final third and put in poor crosses or rushed it. A little bit more composure was needed. In terms of our play in general, it was okay.”

Lennon, who was named Scottish football writers’ manager of the year on Saturday, will demand a response from his players when they wrap up their season at home to Hearts next Sunday before collecting the SPL trophy.

“We need to knuckle down again this week,” he added. “We are making plans for some fitness testing, in terms of how the players are at the end of the season and comparing it with how they are when they come back for pre-season training.

“They were in a for a tough week, but it might be even tougher now after today because I’m not happy at losing. They better be up for it next week or they won’t be going on holiday just yet.”