Peat's attack on 'cowardly and contemptible' threats a lift for winning manager

Peat was scathing in his assessment of the high profile off-the-field events this season which have seen Lennon and his family regularly placed under 24-hour security surveillance.

"Fluctuations in football fortunes are part of the game but death threats, delivery of suspicious mail packages and the need for round-the-clock protection are most certainly not," wrote Peat. "I admire Neil's courage in handling the abhorrent and contemptible behaviour to which he has been subjected, and put on record my condemnation of such cowardly acts."

After Celtic's 4-0 win over Aberdeen, Lennon was asked for his reaction to Peat's comments. "I've not read it yet, but I welcome those words," Lennon replied. "It's very nice of him."

Peat went on to claim that the ongoing dispute between Celtic and the SFA, most recently articulated by the club's lawyer Paul McBride, has been over-stated.

"There has been much made of the supposed 'SFA v Celtic War' in the media," added Peat, "but the reality is somewhat different. Only last week, I met with Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, who is fully supportive of the Strategic Plan being driven by our own chief executive Stewart Regan."

Lennon's focus remains firmly fixed on trying to win the SPL title, insisting the Scottish Cup final against Motherwell on 21 May is very much a secondary consideration as far as he is concerned.

"We've got something to look forward to at the end of the season but the main priority is obviously the championship," said Lennon. "The cup final is an incentive, it's a piece of silverware at the end of the season. But it's on the back burner now and we go back to concentrating on what we really want.

"We tried to treat today's game like a league game, as a must-win game. The application and the way the players went about their business was very good.

"We are on a decent run at the moment and performances like today's won't do us any harm. We've got a big week now, with Kilmarnock on Wednesday night and then Ibrox on Sunday."

Celtic will learn today the extent of the hamstring injury which forced Joe Ledley to limp off after 70 minutes yesterday, with the Welsh midfielder already rated doubtful for Wednesday night's game at Rugby Park.

On a more positive note for Lennon, Swedish central defender Daniel Majstorovic returned to action as a late substitute at Hampden.

"We had the opportunity to give him some game time today, which was important," said Lennon. "He's made a very quick recovery from his injury and we're very pleased with that, particularly with Glenn Loovens having a hamstring injury at the moment. Daniel will be in contention for Wednesday.

"Joe picked up a little niggle today and we'll have to see how he is tomorrow. Cha Du Ri also has an ongoing niggle, but overall we have got a really good, healthy squad to choose from."

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown was left to bemoan the players unavailable to him at Hampden as his club's large travelling support endured more disappointment.

"We were without six first team guys today," said Brown, "And even Celtic or Rangers would struggle in that circumstance.

"We will start rebuilding for next season now. The loyalty of the 10,000 Aberdeen fans today was incredible again and it deserves to be rewarded with a good team."

Brown, meanwhile, hopes his former club Motherwell lift the Scottish Cup next month, despite his recent touchline run-in with Fir Park chairman John Boyle.

"I'm sure he'll give me a ticket while gloating," smiled Brown. "I'm delighted for Motherwell, I've always had a real feeling for the club, and no matter who they were playing in the final I would be supporting them."