Lennon ready for Rangers

Celtic interim manager Neil Lennon claims he will be making no special preparations for the game against Rangers on Tuesday.

With the Gers having already clinched the SPL title, there is only pride to play for in the Old Firm clash at Parkhead.

It will be Lennon's first game against the Hoops' arch-rivals since taking control of the side on a temporary basis following Tony Mowbray's exit, although he has plenty of experience of Old Firm matches as a player.

"I'm looking forward to it, like I looked forward to the 33 or 34 that I played in," he said.

"It'll be no different, just try and prepare the same. The players are obviously feeling very good about themselves at the minute so we'll have a pretty light day today (Monday) and just go over a few things and then just get them ready for tomorrow.

"It feels the same as when I played. The pressures are still the same, the build-up's still the same and the headlines are still the same.

"So nothing different - only the fact that I'm not playing. There's a lot of onus on me to get a winning team out there on the pitch.

"I've looked at every game as an opportunity. Don't make it a big deal because it's Rangers, it's another SPL game.

"I know there's a wee bit of extra ingredients in it because it's an Old Firm game, but for me it's just three points and that's all I'm looking at.

"I want to win the game like I've wanted to win every other game but because it's Rangers does it make it a little bit sweeter? Probably yes."

Tension

Meanwhile, the tension leading up to the game has increased after Rangers attacker Nacho Novo blasted Celtic and their former manager Tony Mowbray's criticism of Walter Smith.

Hoops defender Andreas Hinkel has responded to the comments by claiming Celtic are a better side than the Gers, despite trailing them by 11 points and having failed to beat them in three games this season.

Lennon added: "I read Andy's quotes and I'm not going to come down hard on him at all.

"What's he said that is going to be motivational for Rangers? That we deserved better over the three Old Firm games? Well, I think that's a fair point, is it not?

"It's just as motivational as Nacho Novo talking about our players.

"He was just talking about the Old Firm games and he felt that we deserved more and I agree with him.

"I thought the first Old Firm game was pretty even. The talking points were the penalty decisions and we should have had one or two and that would have changed the course of the game.

"The second game was all us and that was one that got away from us.

"We got the goal but couldn't shut the door.

"In the third game, the (Scott Brown) sending-off changed it and they deserved to win."