Lennon blasts referee for failing to protect Hibs from ‘disgraceful tackles’

Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon claimed referee John Beaton failed to protect his players from “disgraceful'' challenges during a 1-1 draw with St Johnstone.

Lennon watched from the McDiarmid Park stands as he began a three-match touchline ban following his angry reaction to a dismissal from Kevin Clancy at Kilmarnock last month.

But the suspension did not stop him providing a critical assessment of another match official.

Steven Anderson, Blair Alston, Scott Tanser, Liam Craig and Joe Shaughnessy were booked for Saints but Lennon felt Beaton should have evened up the teams after Ofir Marciano's 14th-minute red card for handling well outside his box.

“It's just as well as I was in the stand because I don't understand how St Johnstone ended the game with 11 men,” said Lennon, who had John McGinn booked for his team.

“I totally get our red card was deserved, it was the right decision, but some of the challenges on my players second half were shocking. Disgraceful tackles.

“I get cynical tackling but that was way beyond the pale. And one of my players is going to get badly injured with tackles like that. We are not getting protected enough and I've been saying this on numerous occasions this season.”

Lennon was particularly annoyed at Alston bringing down McGinn as he broke into the Saints half.

“It's a red card,'' he said. “All day long. He has no attempt to play the ball other than be reckless and endanger John's wellbeing. It is horrific. And he (Beaton) is stood right there looking at it.

“And then there's another one. He (Beaton) told my captain he (Alston) was on one more. He brings John down again two or three minutes later and he stays on the pitch.”

Hibs led through Efe Ambrose's second-minute header but Chris Kane steered home in the 83rd minute after substitute goalkeeper Cammy Bell had frustrated the hosts with some good stops before touching Tanser's stoppage-time free-kick on to the bar.

“I have only praise for my players,'' Lennon said. “They were amazing, absolutely amazing. Yeah, we rode our luck at times. Our goalkeeper, Cammy, comes on and was absolutely sensational.”

Saints boss Tommy Wright felt his side got their rewards for their persistence.

“I'm not happy with the start, it was a poor goal to give away,'' he said.

“We go to sleep and don't do enough to stop the cross and we're probably a wee bit deep.

“I thought Hibs defended well and looked a threat on the counter. We have had to change the system a few times and at the end we are basically 2-4-4 at the end to try to get back in the game, and fortunately enough we did because we deserved that.

“Obviously we had more chances but you have got to give the opposition and particularly their goalkeeper a lot of credit, it was a magnificent save in the last minute.