Lennon aims to put bitter defeat to rivals behind him

Celtic boss Neil Lennon wants the SPL defeat by Rangers to be viewed in context as his side look to bounce back against St Johnstone in tonight's Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final clash at McDiarmid Park.

The Hoops lost their 100 per cent league record that saw their bitter rivals go three points clear.

Much of the fall-out from the encounter centred on the Celtic boss's criticism of referee Willie Collum for awarding Rangers a penalty in the second half of the 3-1 win for the visitors.

However, Lennon's players have also come under scrutiny, and the former Parkhead captain said: "I have thought long and hard over the weekend and hopefully the next time we play Rangers we will be better.

"I analysed the game to see where we could have done better. We made basic mistakes for the first two goals and we were punished. But it's not as if the championship was decided.

"I maintained all along that it wouldn't have a bearing on the course of the season, the third and fourth Old Firm games are usually the make or break ones.

"So it's not all doom and gloom, we have only lost one SPL game this season albeit to our major rivals. We all feel a bit raw but the best way back is to put in the positive performance although it won't be easy at St Johnstone."

Saints boss Derek McInnes does not expect Celtic to be affected by their Old Firm defeat, saying: "Celtic don't often lose two on the bounce so Neil will surely get a response from his players."