SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE:NEIL LENNON has gone on the offensive over criticism of his touchline style, calling it "regurgitated rubbish" from his playing days.

Lennon, the Celtic manager, was sent to the stand during Wednesday night’s 2-0 loss to Hearts. His altercation with the fourth official during that game and post-match comments made to the media are set to land him in further trouble with the Scottish Football Association.

The Irishman strongly disputes, though, that he has an issue with his temper. “I’ve been hearing this for 10 years; tempers, tantrums, the same regurgitated rubbish I got as a player I’m getting as a manager, by the same people,” the former Celtic captain said. “People can interpret it any way they want. I don’t think I behave any differently from other managers.”

Celtic will await written confirmation from the SFA before deciding whether or not to appeal against Lennon’s sending-off in Edinburgh.

“I don’t know why (I get criticised), you would need to ask the people who make an issue of it,” the manager said. “It just seems my behaviour gets exaggerated, maybe because of who I am and who I manage.”

Lennon refused yesterday to directly discuss referees or the events of Wednesday night at Tynecastle. He issued a strong defence, though, of his approach which he has no immediate plans to change by swapping the dug-out for the stand.

“You can never get caught up too much in the emotions of the game,” Lennon said. “You play it as you see it. I’ve seen other managers do it (watch from the stands), that’s their choice and might be something I will do down the line – I might have to.”

Lennon’s counterpart at Rangers, Walter Smith, would not be drawn into the continuing battle between Celtic and officialdom. Smith believes, in short, that quite enough has been made of the situation already.

The Rangers manager did confirm he is pleased Craig Levein has left five of his players out of the Scotland squad for Tuesday night’s friendly match against the Faroe Islands.

“We’ve had a heavy schedule and we’ve had half a dozen players in the Scotland squad before,” said Smith.

“We’ve still got two – Steven Whittaker and Steven Naismith – and I don’t think Craig would have had any real need to see the other ones. He has had plenty of time to see and work with those ones.”

• Guardian Service