Hearts 0-3 Celtic: Jambos crumble
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Published Date: 12 May 2011
By BARRY ANDERSON
A NIGHT when Scottish football plumbed to unprecedented depths of despair.
Neil Lennon attacked by a so-called fan while inside his technical area, Celtic supporters battling police and stewards while pretending to be Irish republicans, and two sending offs that verged on the farcical. One of the most controversial seasons ever is drawing to a close, however one last round of chaos at Tynecastle just about topped it all.

After refereeing cover-ups, conspiracy theories and parliamentary summits to discuss Old Firm matches, season 2010/11 added another chapter to its book of infamy last night. In the 49th minute of play, Celtic's celebrations following Gary Hooper's second goal were cut short. A man leapt from Tynecastle's main stand to sprint down the track and assault Lennon. The surprised Celtic manager barely had time to react before stewards pounced on his assailant, but that did not stop Lennon swinging his boot at the flattened thug several times. In fact, twice he mistakenly connected with one of the grounded stewards as his rage took over.

Few could blame him given the letter bombs, death threats, 24-hour security and everything else he has tolerated of late. No-one should be subjected to physical abuse for simply doing their job, especially when that job is managing a football team. Where was his protection? Lennon hurled a few expletives at his attacker as he was marched down the tunnel by police and the Irishman was later described as "shaken but fine" by his assistant, Johann Mjallby.

Hearts may now be punished. It might only have been one brainless buffoon but that he emerged from a section of home supporters to attack Lennon leaves the Edinburgh club open to possible sanctions from the Scottish Football Association.

Perhaps there should also be action taken against Celtic for the equally unacceptable conduct of their supporters in the Roseburn Stand. Groups of them fought with police and stewards in the aftermath of the attack on their manager, accompanied by deafening chants of "we are the IRA". Feet and punches were swung at the local constabulary as things threatened to get completely out of control in the away end.

On the field it was actually quite the opposite. Celtic were in total command of a match they had to win to keep their SPL title hopes alive. David Obua, Hearts' Ugandan midfielder, was red carded on 32 minutes for an innocuous slap at Charlie Mulgrew.

By then Celtic were already 1-0 ahead after Kris Commons had dispossessed the dithering Marius Zaliukas to tee up Hooper for a 12th-minute opener.

Hooper struck the second to unwittingly spark mayhem shortly after the interval, then late in the game Commons earned two cautions for diving and leaving the field of play respectively, the second in celebration after he converted Celtic's third.

The visitors dominated Hearts virtually from start to finish but their performance was overshadowed by events shortly after half-time. "How the lad ever got through there needs to be looked at, we don't condone it in any way," said Jim Jefferies, the Hearts manager. "Thankfully nobody, particularly Neil, was hurt. The club will help the police and authorities to make sure that never happens again and that the right course of action is taken against the person who got free. It's just nonsense.

"I never had a bad feeling before the game. I thought it would be a great atmosphere but it was a different type of atmosphere for some reason. Whether it was because we got beat at Rangers on Saturday, and a week ago Celtic were in front and then handed the initiative back to Rangers, these things boil up. They have a chance to win the league on the last day now but I don't know if there was something last night that was going to boil over."

Mjallby echoed Jefferies' sentiments. "What happened to Neil, it's a dark day for Scottish football. It's an absolute disgrace," he said. "I've never seen anything like it. Obviously he (Lennon) is a bit shaken. I saw someone coming and obviously we didn't react at first but we were obviously a bit shocked, all of us."

Mjalby admitted the incident could prompt Lennon to question his future as manager of Celtic. He added: "Of course Neil has had the death threat and obviously what can you do? The guy could've had anything in his hand. It was shocking. We all know Neil is a strong character but how much can a guy take?"

Hearts will appeal the red card issued to Obua after referee Craig Thomson acted on the advice of his assistant referee, Keith Sorbie. Jefferies said Thomson told him Obua was dismissed for swinging a punch at Mulgrew and stressed the sense of injustice did not help the simmering atmosphere. "I felt there was a bit of hostility in the atmosphere but I've got to say I don't think the linesman did the referee any favours.

"You always felt it was simmering but I think that incident sparked it off a little bit more. I asked Craig what Obua was sent off for and he said it was a punch. I was within inches of them and Charlie had a wee pop at him (Obua) verbally and it was nothing. David brushed him aside. There was no way that was a punch. To get sent off for that was a terrible decision."

Hearts had started in buoyant mood since Dundee United's defeat at Ibrox 24 hours previously confirmed the Edinburgh club's place in Europe for next season.

But little more than half an hour in they were 1-0 down after another aberration from their captain, who was caught in possession midway inside his own half. Obua's sending off for raising a hand to push Mulgrew in the back of the head made for an insurmountable hurdle.

Hooper collected Ki Sung-Yeung's pass to poke the second beyond Kello, and Commons executed an expert jink on Zaliukas to skin the Lithuanian and drive home the third. The Scotland internationalist had been cautioned for diving just moments before, and when he set off to celebrate with Celtic supporters he earned a second yellow to add to compound a night of nonsense in Gorgie.

Taken from the Scotsman