Source: Team_Talk
'Wishy-washy' Hoops worry Lennon
eil Lennon has urged his Celtic side to stop being "wishy-washy" after they survived a St Johnstone comeback to win 3-2 in the Co-op Cup.[LNB] The Hoops triumphed at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday night to book themselves a place in the semi-finals of the competition.[LNB]An Anthony Stokes double and a Niall McGinn strike had the visitors three goals up after only 13 minutes and it looked like it was going to be comfortable night for the visitors.[LNB]However, Sam Parkin reduced the deficit before the break and Saints midfielder Murray Davidson headed in the second in the 54th minute and only a brilliant Fraser Forster save right at the end from Saints substitute Jennison Myrie-Williams prevented extra time.[LNB]While Celtic also passed up on opportunities to draw further ahead, Lennon recognised his side's defensive problems which were exposed in Sunday's 3-1 defeat by Rangers at Parkhead.[LNB]The Hoops' boss said: "I don't want us to be wishy-washy. I want us to be resolute at times and see games out.[LNB]"We've done that tonight but we had to be thankful for a three-goal start.[LNB]"It can always suck you in to a false sense of security, being three goals up after 15 to 20 minutes.[LNB]"But the game is never done and if you give teams encouragement or lifelines then you are asking for a bit of trouble.[LNB]"We have to cope better with the physical side of the game at times and we didn't do that well enough for my liking.[LNB]"You work on set pieces and people can talk about man-to-man marking or zonal marking but at the end of the day once the ball is in that area you have to go and head it and it is costing us goals at the minute."[LNB]He added: "We got off to a breathtaking start and some of the football in the first 25 minutes was fantastic.[LNB]"But again we conceded two poor goals and we missed two gilt-edged chances to put the game away and when you do that it makes like difficult.[LNB]"Losing goals is a concern, particularly the first one and one from the corner as well.[LNB]"But that's a negative. I'm thrilled to be in a semi-final, I'm thrilled with the reaction of the players after Sunday."[LNB]Lennon praised Forster for his brilliant save down at his right-hand side, saying: "It was an incredible save and he made one in the first half as well.[LNB]"I don't know how much he has seen of the ball, he couldn't have seen it until late, I think it got a deflection as well, so it was wonderful.[LNB]"But again we have to better at closing down crosses and shots, throwing our bodies at things."[LNB]After writing to the Scottish Football Association asking for explanations for refereeing decisions made in the previous two games, Lennon praised the performance of Craig Thompson - although Joe Ledley was denied what looked a good goal for offside when the visitors were leading 3-0.[LNB]The Celtic boss said: "It is a perfectly good goal from where I stood. It was a good ball and a well-timed run.[LNB]"The official got it wrong - but we will leave it at that.[LNB]"I thought the referee had a very good game."[LNB]The investigation into referee Dougie McDonald's decision to rescind a Celtic penalty at Tannadice last week, which led assistant referee Steven Craven to quit, has been passed from the SFA to their referee committee which will meet on Friday.[LNB]Lennon said: "We would like a definitive finding on it and see what comes out of it."[LNB]Saints boss Derek McInnes tried to take the positives from the game, saying: "Nobody would have given us a chance after 15 minutes.[LNB]"To lose three goals so early is totally disheartening and there was a sense of astonishment.[LNB]"You have to credit the players for the whole second half, they kept going an another five minutes we could have forced extra time.[LNB]"I thought the shot at the end was past their keeper and we had done enough to force extra time.[LNB]"But we need to learn to respond better when we go behind."
