Neil Lennon: 'Scottish Cup exit is hugely disappointing'

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has admitted that he is disappointed that his side have crashed out of the Scottish Cup at the fifth-round stage.

The Hoops, who are the current holders of the competition, took the lead at Celtic Park through Anthony Stokes, but Russell Anderson and Peter Pawlett strikes fired Aberdeen through.

The defeat means that Celtic are now out of the Champions League, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

"We wanted to defend the cup - it's in our DNA as a club - and to go out so early in both competitions is hugely disappointing," Lennon is quoted as say by AFP. "I can factor in the League Cup as at the time we were in the Champions League and I made some changes for that game, but there are no excuses for today as that was a poor performance.

"We all have to accept the responsibility and the criticism that will come our way. You have to give Aberdeen credit as they played well on the day - going a goal down they showed a lot of character to get back into the game.

"But I've got to look at my own team and that's as poor as we've played here for a long, long time. We missed too many decent chances when we didn't work the goalkeeper and there was a flatness about our play today. I don't where that has come from."

Celtic are back in Scottish Premiership action next weekend when they face St Johnstone.