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Attendance: 8,307
Kilmarnock logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 22
Jan 22, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
 
Celtic logo

1-3

Kabamba (66')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Edouard (25'), Griffiths (51'), Jullien (73')

Neil Lennon vows to defend Leigh Griffiths after abuse from fans

Neil Lennon vows to defend Leigh Griffiths after abuse from fans
© Reuters
The Celtic striker was substituted in the 80th minute.

Neil Lennon will back Leigh Griffiths "to the hilt" if there are any repercussions after the Celtic striker appeared to throw tape at Kilmarnock fans following his substitution in the 3-1 win at Rugby Park.

The Scotland international made way for Mikey Johnston 10 minutes from time after earlier scoring the Hoops' second goal, in between counters by Odsonne Edouard and Christopher Jullien, with Killie striker Nicke Kabamba netting for the home side.

Cameras appeared to capture Griffiths tossing away tape into the main stand and a fracas ensued with words exchanged between some home fans and the Hoops bench, with stewards and police moving into the crowd.

However, Lennon, who described the win as an "outstanding performance", played the incident down.

He said: "He was getting a lot of unsavoury abuse, uncalled for. He was backed up by myself and his team-mates on the bench.

"I thought his behaviour tonight was exemplary and at times we take uncalled for abuse. He didn't do anything wrong. People can blow it up, it was nothing.

"He threw a bit of tape on the ground. I don't know how you can say he threw it at somebody or towards somebody.

"People take off tape and throw it away. There is nothing in it at all. The kid had played well, he hadn't got himself into any bother on the pitch, he sits down and gets abuse from supporters.

"In this day and age we have to accept this and behave in a sanitised way and he did. You are always looking for a story that is just not there. I will back him and defend him to the hilt.

"He always seems to get controversy around him but I will back him to the hilt on this one, his behaviour was top class as was his performance. That's two goals in two games and he is getting better and better."

There was some concern when defender right-back Jeremie Frimpong was taken from the field a couple of minutes from the end on a stretcher after a challenge by Alan Power.

Lennon said: "We don't think it is a fracture. He is up walking about on it so that's good news and we will just have to see the severity of the bruising on it, that's all."

Killie have now lost their last six Ladbrokes Premiership matches.

Boss Alex Dyer said: "I thought we played well against a good side but we made some mistakes.

"Celtic are top of the league and it was difficult for us, but we played some good football.

"However, you get punished when you make individual mistakes against a team like Celtic. The boys are working hard but it's always a bonus when you beat teams like that."

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon pictured on November 28, 2019
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
CCeltic550095306593
2RangersRangers531187325585
3Hearts513154421268
4Kilmarnock51224644256
5St Mirren51134652-647
6Dundee50144968-1942
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen54104852-448
2Hibernian52125259-746
3Motherwell52035659-343
4St Johnstone51132954-2535
5Ross County51223867-2935
RLivingston52122970-4125
 
First Phase
CCeltic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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