Celtic v Rangers: Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist ‘will have cringed with embarrassment’ after Old Firm bust-up
Alex Smith, the chairman of the League Managers and Coaches Association, flew in the face of public opinion on Thursday night when he argued that Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Rangers’ No 2, Ally McCoist, are more to be pitied than scorned.
Head to head: Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist square up
By Ewing Grahame 11:24PM GMT 03 Mar 2011
Images of the altercations between the pair during and after Celtic’s 1-0 Scottish cup victory were unedifying and did little for the image of the Scottish game.
Rangers also had three players dismissed but it was the sight of a snarling Lennon, 39, and McCoist, 49, having to be pulled apart which drew condemnation from politicians and senior police officers.
Smith, though, claims that a little understanding would go a long way and firmly believes that the pair (pictured) will be too embarrassed by their actions ever to repeat them.
“What you saw there was two fiercely competitive young men caught up in a situation they had never experienced before,” said the former St Mirren, Aberdeen and Dundee United manager.
“Neither of them have any managerial experience with small or middle-of-the-road clubs yet here they are in charge – or heir apparent, in Ally’s case – of two of Europe’s biggest sporting institutions in a cup tie in front of 60,000 people. Last night the emotions of the game spilt over and they became involved but nobody needs to tell them how important it is to win an Old Firm game or, equally, how their behaviour can have repercussions for those inside the ground or watching on television.
“But they’ll now realise – if they didn’t before – that their conduct as managers is magnified much more than it was when they were playing in these games.
“Walter Smith and Billy McNeill, Alex McLeish and Martin O’Neill, Jock Wallace and Jock Stein, they were all aware of their responsibilities. Neil and Ally will also know that now. They are both good guys and they will have watched that TV footage and cringed with embarrassment and they’ll be feeling annoyed with themselves and sheepish about it now.”
Lennon, in a statement on the club’s website, appeared to suggest that a mountain had been made of a molehill. “There was an incident on the touchline at the final whistle between myself and Ally McCoist, and obviously it’s one that has attracted a lot of attention,” he said.
“We’ve both got a lot of experience of this fixture and know that sometimes, in the heat of the moment ,things can be said and words exchanged.
“However, we were still able to sit down after the game and as far as we are concerned the matter is closed.”
Meanwhile, Hearts manager Jim Jefferies said the ugly scenes made for “good telly viewing”. He added: “That derby is known the world over as one of the most competitive there is. Yesterday will highlight it.”
Old Firm, same old story
Celtic 0 Rangers 3
SPL, May 2, 1999
Referee Hugh Dallas was left bleeding from a head wound after being struck by a missile thrown by a Celtic supporter. Stephane Mahe and Vidar Riseth were ordered off, as was the visitors’ Rod Wallace.
Celtic 0 Rangers 1
SPL, March 16, 1997
Home defender Malky Mackay and his direct opponent, Mark Hateley, both saw red following an off-the ball-tussle and Paolo Di Canio infamously threatened to break Rangers midfielder Ian Ferguson’s leg following another bust-up.
Rangers 2 Celtic 2
SPL, Oct 17, 1987
Rangers goalkeeper Chris Woods and captain Terry Butcher were sent off, along with Celtic striker Frank McAvennie. The procurator fiscal’s office in Glasgow ordered all three plus Rangers defender Graham Roberts to appear in court, charging them with breach of the peace.
Celtic 1 Rangers 0 (aet)
Scottish Cup final, May 10 1980
Both sets of fans ran onto the pitch and mounted police were required to quell the riot. Alcohol has been banned from Scottish stadia since.
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