Neil Lennon: 'Craig Levein criticism harsh'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 14 September 2012

Celtic boss Neil Lennon defends Scotland manager Craig Levein after critics slated their start to the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has leapt to the defence of national team boss Craig Levein following criticisms of Scotland's start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Scotland could only manage two points from their opening two games, drawing with both Serbia and Macedonia at Hampden Park, leading some people to question Levein's ability to lead the side to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

However, Lennon believes that the criticism is unwarranted and thinks that some of it is driven by personal agendas.

"I feel for him a little bit, but he is big enough and strong enough and he is trying to do the right thing and play the right way. My own thoughts are that some of these people take personal issues and make it public through a newspaper and that's not the right place or time to do that," said Lennon.

"Certainly some of the stuff I read today was pretty crass, way off the mark and uneducated and just basically some of it is having a go for the sake of having a go. It is a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. I think we fly off the handle very quickly.

"Ideally you want to win your home games but that can be rectified pretty quickly if you pick up points away from home so Scotland are far from out of the group. Sometimes players need to hold their hands up and say 'I didn't do as well as I should have done there'. On reflection of both the games, the players can play better but it is far too early to say they are not going to qualify."

Scotland's next matches come away to Wales and Belgium next month.