Seven years ago Neil Lennon left the Celtic side in no doubt about his feelings after a spineless Scottish Cup semi-final defeat from Ross County. Kieran Tierney’s dad was equally unimpressed.
Hibs lost out to Aberdeen in a completely different fashion today but Lennon’s anger was much the same, there is no comforting way to lose a semi-final.
Aberdeen took the lead after 13 seconds through Adam Rooney, before the half hour mark the lead was doubled through Ryan Christie.
First half substitute Grant Holt pulled a goal back two minutes after replacing Fraser Fyvie with Dylan McGeouch equalising on the hour mark.
When a Jonny Hayes shot in the 85th minute deflected off Darren McGregor into the net it could have teed up a hard luck story but Lennon was having none of that when he entered the media conference after the final whistle.
“Don’t commiserate, it wasn’t good enough,” he said, cutting into the first question offering commiserations.
“We didn’t turn up for 30 minutes then for the next 60 we were the better team by a long way, we scored two wonderful goals.
“But you can’t give any team a two goal start in a semi-final. We got it back, the game could have gone either way but to be fair to Aberdeen they got a huge slice of luck for their winning goal, it happens but for the first 30 minutes….I don’t know, they need to have a good look at themselves.
“I don’t mind conceding a goal after one minute because you have 89 to get back in but we didn’t show any responsibility. Two players did, Bartley and McGeouch.
WATCH@HibsOfficial Head Coach Neil Lennon disappointed with ‘rubbish & pathetic’ effort after defeat to @AberdeenFC https://t.co/XWnQJwUBbP
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) April 22, 2017
“The rest looked like the boy band they’ve been over the last three or four years. It was pathetic. Utterly pathetic. It was a semi-final, the pitch was good.
“We have been playing on quagmires all season. I wanted the players to go out and express themselves.
“You get set-backs, losing the early goal, but it didn’t worry me because I have character in there.
“They just didn’t show it. The first two goals were schoolboy stuff. I thought I was getting there but some old, bad habits started creeping back in there.
“Players hiding, miscontrolling the ball, not being physical enough.
“Coulda, woulda shoulda. Gallant losers are losers. Forget it. You all know me, I am not interested.”
Ryan Christie, who was an unused substitute in Celtic’s Scottish Cup win over Albion Rovers, will be left sweating over the outcome of tomorrow’s semi final. A win for his parent club would rule him out of the final.