Neil Lennon reveals frustrations from Saturday’s Old Firm Derby

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Neil Lennon’s Celtic may have got one over on their rivals Rangers during the Old Firm Derby at the weekend, but the manager still wasn’t entirely happy.

The Hoops are now 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table and will surely go on to seal an eighth straight title.

Goals from Odsonne Edouard and James Forrest handed the hosts the victory, amid chaos involving captain Scott Brown.

The veteran was involved in altercations with Alfredo Morelos, who was sent off for lashing out at the Scot, and Ryan Kent, who is facing retrospective action.

It was a highly charged affair as was to be expected, but Celtic emerged victorious.

Despite the three points, Lennon has revealed what frustrated him about his side’s display. He said, as quoted by The Daily Record: “It shouldn’t have been as fraught as we made it because at half-time we were a goal up and had a man extra. There was a little bit of naivety from us at times in the game.

“I thought we were a little bit passive in the second half in terms of our pressing.

“We sat off Rangers and (Ryan) Kent and (Daniel) Candeias kept coming off and getting turned. We really should have been 10 yards further up the pitch to stop the attacks around about the halfway line.”

TBR’s view

Now that the dust has settled, Lennon has spoken and arguably he is right.

Celtic may have ran out winners but it need not have been as close as it was, especially following the Morelos red card.

The Hoops should have used the ball better and put the visitors to the sword, but were a little lethargic in their play in the second half which invited Kent to take a risk.

Lennon hasn’t done an awful lot wrong since he replaced Brendan Rodgers, but to hear him striving for perfection must be music to Celtic fans’ ears.