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Neil Lennon disappointed by defeat to Benfica

Lennon disappointed by defeat to Benfica
© PA Photos
Celtic manager Neil Lennon admits his side lacked the composure to hang on to a draw in Benfica.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has declared that he was disappointed with his side's lack of composure to see out Champions League qualification against Benfica.

A Georgios Samaras header had Celtic in a position to guarantee a place in the last 16 at the break before things unravelled in the second half.

Benfica clinched victory with a clinical volley from Ezequiel Garay 20 minutes from time.

Lennon admitted that his young side buckled under pressure at the Stadium of Light.

He told reporters: "I'm disappointed with the two goals we conceded. There was a lack of composure, a nervousness, about us at times on the ball.

"It is a young team and this is a difficult place to come and play football. We gave it away in bad areas and cheaply and pressure is inevitably going to come from those errors."

Celtic only need to match Benfica's result in the final group match at home to Spartak Moscow to reach the knockout stages.

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Benfica's Ezequiel Garay scores his side's second against Celtic on November 20, 2012
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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