Hearts skipper attacks Bhoys counterpart

May 3, 2006

Hearts captain Steven Pressley has blasted Celtic skipper Neil Lennon in a new twist to the spitting controversy which erupted following the sides’ Scottish Premier League clash on Sunday.

Lennon was furious after clashing with Hearts ace Rudi Skacel, the second time this season the Czech midfielder has been accused of spitting.

But Pressley has no sympathy for his Hoops counterpart – insisting that Lennon’s status as the perennial victim cuts no ice.

He said: “The one thing I will say is poor old Neil Lennon. He always seems to be the one involved in the middle of any controversy.

"He always seems so innocent but in a lot of the highlighted incidents that have occurred between players this season the one common denominator is Neil Lennon.

"This should not be overlooked. He was defended by his manager after the Stuart Dougal incident and then there was the CIS Cup final war of words with Greg Shields when he criticised a fellow professional.

"I understand spitting is an entirely different issue but Lennon has gone public and made a great deal about things again. And again he has claimed he is completely innocent.

"But in this instance I do not think Lennon has been gracious in defeat and he has tried to cloud that by making a big issue of something we at Hearts simply do not believe happened.

"If Rudi did spit at Lennon then I certainly would not defend him in any shape or form nor would I put these comments into print, but I just don’t believe such an incident took place.”