Strachan bites his lip over Tynecastle row

Gordon Strachan, though, remains unperturbed by the controversial aftermath of their Tynecastle defeat. Taking care of their own and ignoring outside influences have become two of Celtic's important building blocks in a title-winning season.

Neil Lennon's insistence that Rudi Skacel spat at him during Sunday's 3-0 reverse has dominated the headlines and also resulted in the Celtic captain being banned for the first game of next season. Lennon's angry reaction to the incident earned him a booking from Alan Freeland, the referee, which has taken him through the disciplinary threshold.

As the flames of that dispute were fanned by claim and counter-claim, Vladimir Romanov waded in with his own dismissive critique of Celtic and their playing style. Despite a 16-point gap between the clubs, the Hearts owner said he did not believe Strachan's side to be their "strongest rivals" and that "it is not the most difficult thing in the world to beat Celtic".

Lennon's anger over Skacel's behaviour, and his incurred suspension, will not lead to any protest from Parkhead to the Scottish Football Association, who have insufficient television evidence to open a review case.

Some newspaper pictures of the flashpoint yesterday morning made awkward viewing for the Czech but Strachan does not wish to become embroiled in continuing the controversy.

"There will be nothing from us," said Strachan. "I think it's up to other people to determine how their players behave or the association does that. It's been our policy not to get involved in these things.

"I understand Neil is very angry because he'll miss the first game of the season but my advice to him would be to put it away now. The pictures this morning need no more words – they say it all. Maybe I could have saved Neil from all this by not playing him, but he wanted to play in the last games.

"I think what we did as a club was right. As always when we've been defeated, we shook hands with the opposition manager, got back on the bus and said nothing. We'll continue to do that. We think we can handle winning and we think we can handle defeat."

Strachan pointed to a radically improved disciplinary record as evidence of that mindset. Lennon's after-match red card in the 3-1 defeat at Ibrox in August prompted the manager to lay down a strict code of conduct.

"We said we'd do better with our disciplinary record after the Ibrox game and I think we're now top of the Fair Play league with Kilmarnock," he said.

" I've been delighted with the way the players have reacted. We have good players and small players who are going to get kicked but there has been no retaliation.

"I don't think there has been any abuse or disrespect towards referees since the Ibrox game. That's part of the reason why we've done so well because we've not had anyone sent off since then. Our discipline and our mental strength has kept us solid."

Romanov's spot of gloating gained short shrift from Strachan, even if a reference to the championship being won with six games to spare slipped through the net.

"I've got my plan for Celtic and idea of how they should play the game," said the manager. "We've got an extra six weeks to plan for next season that we didn't think we'd have. I'm quite happy with that.

"I'm not concerned by what comes from anybody else. It's part of living the dream of being the Celtic manager or a player – you have to put up with people. There is no need to reply to anything."

Celtic face Kilmarnock this evening in their penultimate Bank of Scotland Premierleague match and, while talk of conspiracies may have faded into the background, Strachan will not call in the kids.

"You'll recognise all the faces, that's for sure," said the manager, although it is likely fringe players such as Alan Thompson will feature.

A new one-year contract for Lennon could be thrashed out this week with his agent due to meet Parkhead officials. Strachan has no doubts the 34-year-old midfielder will stay at the club and confirmed his delight that John Hartson had chosen to do the same.

"John is a likeable big fellow," said Strachan. "He wants to stay and work hard. His idea of work and mine seem to be different but we'll be running to my theories."

There have been no fresh approaches for Stilian Petrov, despite Blackburn Rovers becoming the latest club to be linked with a move for the unsettled Bulgarian. Strachan also said he would hold talks with Stanislav Varga and Dion Dublin, both out of contract this summer, to determine whether they had a future at Parkhead.

Taken from the Herald