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Neil Lennon: 'Craig Levein criticism harsh'

Lennon: 'Levein criticism harsh'
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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.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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