Accies boss Martin Canning hits back at Neil Lennon after 'caveman' comments
ACCIES BOSS MARTIN CANNING HITS BACK AT NEIL LENNON AFTER 'CAVEMAN' COMMENTS
By Will Jackson, Press Association Sport
Hamilton manager Martin Canning has hit back at Neil Lennon after the Hibernian boss accused his side of `caveman' football at the weekend.
Following Hamilton's 1-1 draw with Hibs, Lennon was openly critical of Accies' physical approach to the game which saw five players booked.
The Northern Irishman bemoaned a lack of protection from the officials after what he described as `caveman stuff'' and compared it with football from the 1950s.
However Canning, whose side are now unbeaten in five games as they prepare to travel to Tynecastle to play Hearts on Saturday, was not impressed by Lennon's open criticism of his players.
`Maybe after the game he was a bit frustrated that they hadn't won the game, but one thing I wouldn't do in the same situation, is comment on other team's players,' he told Press Association Sport.
`I'd maybe make a comment on my own team, or the referee if I felt a decision that went against us, but I would never have bad words to say about another team's players, that's not for me.
`But that's Neil, he has his opinion but I won't get involved.'
The Accies boss even disputed Lennon's accusations and suggested it could be sour grapes from the Hibs manager after seeing his side fail to claim three points.
He said: `It probably is. You probably say things after the game when you're frustrated, but I've watched the game back and I didn't think we were overly physical.
`I think if anything the worst tackle in the game was John McGinn's tackle, but that's football.
`For me you can do two things: you can lie down and roll over or you can stand up and try to be competitive and try to grind out something from the game, and that's what we did.''
He added: `It's not something that I associate with our team - that we're overly physical. That's not the case.
`I think it's just something Neil said, and I completely disagree with him but that's his opinion.'