Neil Lennon has confirmed he was sent-off at half-time during Celtic's 3-2 defeat at Rangers.
Celtic boss was sent-off at the interval
Neil Lennon has confirmed he was sent-off at half-time during Celtic's 3-2 defeat at Rangers.
The Bhoys boss saw his side miss the chance to take the SPL title on Sunday as they lost to their arch-rivals.
But Lennon had to watch the second half from the stands as he was sent-off for disputing Cha Du-ri's sending-off in the first half.
"I got sent off at half-time and I have no idea why," he told
Sky Sports.
"I asked to see the referee after the game but he said he would not see me, so I got no explanation from him so I think that is pretty poor."
Lennon insisted he did not abuse any of the officials.
"I said he had a poor first half, I said the sending-off was a joke and he said I had been warned," he continued.
"But at the end of the day, if I can't speak my mind to a referee, not be abusive or shouting, then I feel I am entitled to do that as a manager when I feel aggrieved that a big decision has gone against us."
Lennon's side went into the break 1-0 down after Sone Aluko's goal.
Celtic were then reduced to nine men when Vincent Wanyama was adjudged to have made a two-footed lunge.
Andy Little and Lee Wallace then put Rangers in the driving seat before the home side had Carlos Bocangera dismissed and Scott Brown fired home the subsequent penalty.
Thomas Rogne then headed a second to give the visitors brief hope of a comeback but it was not to be.
Pleased
But Lennon was happy with his side's display.
"I thought we were well in the game but then Rangers scored a great goal, a great individual goal but we still had chances," he said.
"And then the sending off changes the game, it is not a sending off in my view and at 1-0 we are still in the game.
"Second-half, Wanyama is a borderline sending off and against nine men you are always on the back foot.
"The second goal is offside, then we get caught for the third goal as we are chasing the game but we came back and scored two brilliant goals.
"But things conspired against us today and we were not going to win today, I was so proud of the players, and they have shown why they are going to win it."
