Neil Lennon in surprise Rangers penalty defence as Celtic hero demolishes Steven Naismith case before 'soft' caveat
Former Celtic captain and boss Neil Lennon has told Hearts boss Steven Naismith BOTH penalties awarded to Rangers were the correct calls.
Philippe Clement secured his second Scottish Premiership victory in a row with a remarkable late turnaround at Ibrox on Sunday - with the Light Blues closing the gap on the league leaders to five points. But things could have been very different with Lawrence Shankland giving the visitors an early lead - with captain James Tavernier missing from the penalty spot in the first-half after Todd Cantwell was chopped down in the box by Tony Sibbick.
And referee John Beaton would point to the spot for a second time late in the game following a VAR check - with Peter Haring judged to have pulled Connor Goldson to the deck. Tavernier would make no mistake at the second time of asking - and Steven Naismith's men would collapse following the leveller with Danilo heading the winner beyond Zander Clark in injury-time.
The Jambos boss was left fuming at the full-time whistle as he insisted John Lundstram had fouled Haring in the build up - and claimed whistler Beaton had not been shown a long enough clip by the VAR team to spot the infringement from the Rangers midfielder. However, former Celtic boss Lennon mounted a surprise defence of both Ibrox spot-kicks.
Speaking to the PLZ Football Show: "I have a lot of sympathy for Steven on this one. Listen, blocking goes on all the time at corners.
"It is illegal but players get away with it all the time. He (Lundstram) is blocking Haring to a certain extent but there is a tug of the shirt, that is blatant, and I can see why the referee has given the decision.
"But it’s soft. The other one on Cantwell is a stonewall penalty by the way, I have no issue
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