'UNCALLED FOR'
Celtic boss Lennon hits out at ‘unsavoury’ abuse aimed towards Griffiths by Kilmarnock fans
NEIL LENNON last night defended Leigh Griffiths after he was accused of chucking TAPE at a Kilmarnock fan.
The
Celtic striker grabbed his second goal in two games in his side's 3-1 win at Rugby Park.
Lennon has hit out at the abuse aimed at Celtic forward Leigh Griffiths
But Griff
appeared to throw sock tape towards a home punter after being subbed - with cops moving in to calm things.
The SFA could look at the incident but Lenny insists he is INNOCENT and vowed to back him.
He said: "Leigh's behaviour tonight was top class - as was his performance.
"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 so to me there is nothing in it.
"Was he spoken to after the game? No.
"I asked him if anything went on and he said 'No' and he was backed up by his team-mates.
"If there is going to be something made of this then I will be at the front of the queue backing him up
""Leigh was taking some unsavoury abuse and he didn't react in a malicious way at all.
"He's not the perpetrator - the abuse was totally uncalled for.
“He was backed up by myself and his team-mates on the bench.
“I thought his behaviour tonight was exemplary. He didn’t do anything wrong.
"People can blow it up but it was NOTHING.
“He always seems to get controversy surrounding him but I’ll back him to the hilt on this one.
"The kid had played well, he hadn’t got himself into any bother on the pitch.
“He goes and sits down and gets abuse from supporters.
"In this day and age, we have to accept that and behave in a sanitised way. He did.
“You’re looking for a story that’s just not there. If there is a story, I’ll back him and defend him to the hilt."
Odsonne Edouard fired Celtic ahead at Rugby Park and Griffiths then struck after the break.
Nicke Kabamba gave Killie a lifeline when he made it 2-1 with 25 minutes to go.
But Christopher Jullien powered in a Griffiths corner to kill off the home side at Rugby Park.
Jeremie Frimpong's late injury after being clattered by Alan Power was the only negative for Lennon.
He said: "It looks like it's not as bad as we first feared. He may or may not be available for the weekend.
"It was an outstanding performance. Sometimes the surface can be difficult, but we made easy weather of it tonight.
“We had three outstanding goals but more importantly the performance was top class.
"The players’ attitude was top class. I’m absolutely delighted in the context of the season.
"That’s as good as we’ve played in a while."
Killie haven't won a league game in two months and boss Alex Dyer had no complaints.
He said: "You get punished when you make individual mistakes against a team like Celtic."