KENNY: WE DON'T BLAME LENNY

KENNY MILLER last night threw a protective arm around Neil Lennon - and insisted no one at Celtic blames the Irishman for his Tynecastle blunder.

The Parkhead skipper was guilty of an uncharacteristic error when his woefully short backpass allowed Hearts striker Roman Bednar to net a stunning winner in the dying minutes.

It was a gift that sent Celtic crashing to their first defeat of the season and saw the Jambos, their closest title pursuers last term, move into pole position.

Lennon was big enough to put his hands up and apologise to his team-mates in the dressing room but Miller believes the Irishman had nothing to say sorry about.

Miller said: "Straight away he apologised to everyone in the dressing room. But there was no need for it because it could have happened to anybody.

"Everybody makes mistakes. It was just unfortunate for him and for us he was punished for it.

"Yet, that's part and parcel of football and nobody is going to hold it against him. Nobody said anything negative to him after the game.

"He was apologetic as he knew it cost us the game which was disappointing."

Sunday was hardly Lennon's most memorable afternoon in a Celtic jersey with the captain also suffering the ignominy of being dropped by boss Gordon Strachan for the first time in his Parkhead career.

The midfielder started the match on the bench, yet despite the crushing disappointment of being axed Miller claims Lennon refused to feel sorry himself.

Miller said: "Before the game he was his normal self. He's club captain and he was trying to get everybody up for the game as he normally does when he plays."

Strachan's bold decision to relegate his most senior player to the bench proved nobody in the Celtic team is safe from the chop under the current regime.

Miller knows his place is also under threat after failing to score following his Bosman move from Wolves in the summer.

The Scotland striker has so far drawn a blank during Celtic's pre-season and SPL campaign and he was hauled off early in the second half in Gorgie.

Miller reacted angrily to his substitution although he insists it was just sheer frustration as he failed to meet his own high standards.

He said: "Every player hates being taken off and I'm no different. It was just a frustration thing as it was hard to find space.

"It wasn't a particularly good game for me and coming off I didn't think I had done enough to help the cause. It was just a frustrating game.

"It would have been an ideal place to score but I don't really care where my first goal comes.

"It wasn't to be although I haven't had any real chances yet. Hopefully this week at Parkhead against St Mirren I'll get my first goal as I'm sure the chances will come and the goals will start flowing.

"Against Hearts it did prey on my mind but against Kilmarnock I was happy with the way I played.

"I set up the first couple of goals and as long as I'm contributing towards the team I will be happy.

"Last week we had loads of chances. Unfortunately they never fell to me. Against Hearts the chances were few and far between.

"I'm sure they will come and when I get one I'm confident I will get quite a lot."

Miller has an ideal opportunity to open his account against Gus MacPherson's newly-promoted side this weekend and the chance to rekindle memories of the five goals he scored in one match against the Paisley outfit during his spell with Old Firm rivals, Rangers, six years ago.

He said: "I'd love to repeat that again. That would get me right back into the goals. "It seems a long time ago although it was only five or six years ago. I had a few high points but scoring five goals is a great achievement and one you will always remember."

Getting on the score sheet would also enable the former Hibs hitman to banish the memories of his disappointing return to Edinburgh last weekend.

He added: "We didn't do enough to win the game and it was disappointing after getting back into the game.

"It was a chance to stay top of the league and while it is early doors it would have been nice to have stayed there.

"Hearts were tough opponents. We had a lot of stick over pre-season but we came out in the first game last week and played some great stuff against Kilmarnock.

"Against Hearts we didn't get our game going and played into Hearts' hands with a lot of long balls.

"It was frustrating and the fans wouldn't be fans if they were not disappointed. As a player I hate getting beaten and everybody in the dressing room is the same.

"But we will pick our self up and hopefully get a win on Saturday. Hopefully we won't get beaten again all season."

Taken from the Daily Record