Lennon Applauds Hearts

Celtic captain Neil Lennon praised this weekend's opponents Hearts for staying focused despite "the circus" of events behind the scenes. The second-placed Edinburgh club have hit the headlines for a series of events this season.

Their manager George Burley quit last October while they were at the top of the Scottish Premier League (SPL) and his replacement Graham Rix was dismissed after reportedly telling players that Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov picked the team. Lennon, responding to newspaper reports that alternative therapists had been working with injured players, told Friday's news conference: "I don't know what to make of it. "I don't know how much comes through as being true but I do have a certain sympathy for the players at the end of the day.

"They have a job to do and they are somewhere the club has not been before (chasing a Champions League slot), but the circus stuff, behind the scenes, cannot be helping them. "At times it is almost laughable the stuff coming out. But they have to be professional and I think they have handled themselves really well because if it was me then I know I wouldn't take too kindly to it all." Lennon dismissed suggestions that there was no edge to Sunday's SPL encounter and said: "We had a great game there on New Year's Day at Tynecastle (winning 3-2) and I am sure this will be no different.

"I am looking forward to it and the players thrive on thiskind of atmosphere and competition. It's first versus second after all and so everyone here wants to show we're top dogs." Ironically, a win for Celtic would boost their bitter rivals Rangers, currently languishing in third place, in the pursuit of a Champions League berth. Lennon laughed as he added: "If I score the winner I think it would be the first time the Rangers fans would cheer me."