Lennon calls for calm after the storm

Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes there has been a “total overreaction” to another night of woe for Scottish clubs in Europe.

The Old Firm’s European aspirations are in the balance and Hearts are almost certainly out after the three sides’ respective Europa League play-off first-leg ties on Thursday night.

Hearts crashed 5-0 at home to Tottenham to leave the return game in London next week looking like no more than a formality, as the inquest continues into how Celtic failed to break the deadlock against Swiss side Sion at Parkhead in their goalless draw and how Rangers surrendered the lead to go down 2-1 to Maribor in Slovenia.

However, ahead of tomorrow’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at Parkhead, the Celtic boss asked for context and perspective.

“It is a total overreaction,” he said. “We didn’t play as well as can but we dominated the majority of the game.

“My frustration was that the quality wasn’t there in the final third but we didn’t feel under pressure at any stage of the game. Sion came to defend and we probably could have done more, but it’s not all gloom and gloom, that’s for sure.”