Lennon blocks out the boo boys
Manager Martin O'Neill accused the Hearts fans of racist abuse towards the Parkhead midfielder on Sunday. Lennon is disappointed that "nothing" has been done to rid the Scottish game of bigots, but he hopes the Edinburgh club do continue to play at Gorgie Road in the future.
He said: "I actually enjoy playing at Tynecastle because it's such a tight ground and generates an atmosphere. I heard the manager speaking about it after the game but to be honest I don't think it's for me to comment.
"I just try to get on with it. It has been like that for a couple of seasons and I try not to let it affect me or my performance. The most disappointing thing is nothing is done about it and it's just accepted as part of the game."
O'Neill is ready to reward Lennon for his best season at Parkhead with a new contract which will keep him at club for the rest of his career. The Northern Irishman believes his fellow countryman has had his best campaign since going back to sign him from Leicester for ÂŁ5.7m in 2000.
The influential 32-year-old midfielder still has a year to run on his contract but he is set to follow Chris Sutton and Alan Thompson in signing an extension.
O'Neill said: "I've had a general chat with his agent recently and over the next few weeks we'll talk a bit more. Neil has done tremendously well this season and I'd say this is the best season he has had in the near-on four years he has been here.
"He has always played to a high standard in previous campaigns and he is a player who has great consistency.
"But I do feel this year has been his best and I'm sure the campaign is among the most satisfying he's had."
It has also been a memorable campaign for 18-year-old Aiden McGeady, who stamped his mark on senior football with a debut goal at Tynecastle last weekend.
He has revealed he first saw the trick which bewildered Andy Webster being conjured up by Ronaldo before Brazilian team-mate Ronaldinho took it on board.
But the Republic of Ireland youth has admitted he has been told curb his dribbling in dangerous areas. McGeady said: "Actually for all the Ronaldinho talk in the papers the first person I saw doing that trick was Ronaldo.
"But Ronaldinho's been getting a lot of coverage for doing it recently and to be fair to him he does it well. It's something I've always been good at taking people on but you find as you move up the ranks it's more and more about keeping the ball.
"Dribbling's for the last third, and anywhere else the object is to pass it around and keep possession.
"That's something I've had to learn and I definitely feel I've become a better team player this season. To be honest, I've progressed a lot faster than I expected to. I didn't think I'd be in the first team at this stage."
He is set to play a big part in the remaining end-of-season games but the young Bhoy does not expect his skills to grace Hampden Park in the Tennent's Scottish Cup final.
"I wouldn't really think I have a chance of being involved," he said.




