NEIL LENNON has come to the defence of Ryan Christie after the player was sent off during Celtic’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Livingston on Sunday.
The Irishman admitted it was out of character for the player but also that it probably looks much worse than it was at the time. Ultimately, Neil has no issues with Willie Collum brandishing the red card. It was a challenge in the middle of the park which didn’t have to be made.
Elsewhere, Neil Lennon laments the bhoys not doing the dirty side of the game as well as they could. The Celtic manager knowing full well the pitfalls against this Livi side – he’s either ill-prepared his men or they have not taking his messages on board.
Speaking to RecordSport after the game, Neil Lennon discussed the Christie flashpoint and tried to make sense of the defeat.
“Totally (out of character), totally, it’s not like him at all, he just mistimed the tackle and it probably looks worse than what it probably was although having seen it again I have no argument that it was a red card.”
“Obviously the red card is a major turning point in the game. I’ve no issue with it. It’s late, it’s high.
“We were a little bit disappointed with the second goal because at 1-0 we were well in the game. And then we have to throw everything at it.
“We didn’t do the dirty bits of the game well at times, even with 10 men at half-time I felt we could have gone on to win the game but we were passive defensively for the first goal and that’s my only contention with the way we played.
“We didn’t show enough quality in the final third and I knew it would be a concern today. I knew it would be a difficult game and it turned out to be.”
Ryan has been sensational up until now and he will now miss the next two SPFL games as a result of a bad decision. He can have no complaints but hopefully comes back hungrier.
