Celtic manager Neil Lennon claims there is nothing wrong with on-field clashes of personality during Old Firm games as Scott Brown and El-Hadji Diouf prepare to lock horns again.
Hoops captain Brown and Rangers forward Diouf traded insults during and for several days after the 2-2 Scottish Cup draw at Ibrox earlier this month. Brown received a yellow card for celebrating in Diouf's face after netting Celtic's second equaliser but went on to describe it as "the best booking I have ever had".
Lennon said: "Every Old Firm game is different. Both teams have their own personalities and sometimes it can get a bit feisty but there is nothing wrong with that, as long as it doesn't spill into something outrageous."
He added: "Basically you want to keep 11 players on the pitch.
"Each game has its own personalities. It might be two different players you are talking about after Sunday's game."
The former Celtic skipper was involved in some midfield battles of his own with Rangers players, particularly with Barry Ferguson and Fernando Ricksen.
"It was more banter than anything else," he said. "Me and Fergie used to have words, and Ricksen. He was always good to have a wind-up with.
"But I wouldn't tell you what I said to him and vice-versa."
Lennon felt there was nothing wrong with Brown's celebration at Ibrox and sidestepped a question over whether he would have a problem if a Rangers player followed suit on Sunday.
"Listen, I would have a problem if a Rangers player scored - full stop," he said.
Source: PA
