Lennon puts on brave face as Bhoys crash out

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon put up a brave face despite his side crashing out of the Champions League last night following a 4-2 aggregate defeat by Sporting Braga.

First Celtic goals for debutant Gary Hooper and Efrain Juarez earned Lennon’s men a 2-1 win but Paulo Cesar’s first-half away goal had left them needing five to progress. While the Portuguese side now look forward to the Champions League play-offs, Celtic will have to negotiate their way through the same stages of the Europa League.

Lennon said: “Overall I’m delighted with the performance and intensity and all the things you ask for — commitment and passion. At half-time we just asked them to win the game and I thought we deserved to win.’’