ian1964 10,626 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 6 Dec 2011 NEIL LENNON has appealed for a fairer crack of the whip when it comes who plays first in the title race. To date, on the weekends when both have been in action this season, Celtic have played after Rangers on 10 occasions while the Ibrox side have followed the Hoopsâ?? kick-off only four times. Lennon acknowledges that, by dint of competing in the Europa League â?? with most of these fixtures scheduled for Thursdays â?? Celticâ??s following SPL game has to be put back a day. Sky TV and ESPN also dictate who should play when, preferring to screen whichever half of the Old Firm is playing away from home on any given weekend. But the Parkhead boss still believes more could and should be done to balance the situation because he reckons it puts more pressure on the side going second due to the gap between the title challengers often being artificially stretched. That was the situation again last weekend when, after playing Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Celtic played at Tannadice on Sunday, a day after Rangers had extended their lead at the top once again to seven points with a win over Dunfermline on Saturday afternoon. Lennon said: â??To me it is a bit unfair because I think only once or twice recently have we played before Rangers. â??I understand that the fact we are playing in the Europa League on Thursdays means we have had to play on Sundays sometimes. â??But it might give teams a slight advantage. You know, you go into the games like Sundayâ??s at Tannadice seven points behind when the gap could be just one point if we were playing before Rangers and won. â??So, ideally I would like a bit of a balance with that.â? The bad news for Lennon and his players is that this is not about to happen any time soon. In fact, on the three weekends before the Old Firm meet at Parkhead on December 28, Rangers will kick off ahead of Celtic. This Saturday, Ally McCoistâ??s side have a lunchtime start against Hibs at Easter Road, and could again be seven points clear before Celtic meet Hearts at 3pm. The following weekend, Rangers are at home to Inverness at 3pm on the Saturday, while Celticâ??s game away to St Johnstone has been moved to the following day because they play Udinese next midweek. And, on Christmas Eve, both clubs have brought forward their fixtures, but Rangers still edge it. Their game against St Mirren kicks off at 12.45, while Celtic take on Kilmarnock at 1.30. The SPL have announced that the following games have been selected for live TV coverage on Sky Sports and ESPN. Sat Feb 11 Dunfermline v Rangers ESPN, 12 noon Sun Feb 19 Aberdeen v St Johnstone Sky 12.45pm; Hibernian v Celtic - Sky, 3pm Sat Feb 25 St Mirren v Aberdeen ESPN, 12 noon Sun Feb 26 Inverness CT v Rangers Sky 12.45pm Sat Mar 3 Aberdeen v Celtic - ESPN 12 noon Sun Mar 4 Dundee United v Inverness CT ESPN, 12 noon http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/...mble-1.1138420 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ergatrude 0 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Let the conspiracy commence. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,482 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 if Lennon wants to have his games before ours then I'm happy if Celtic's games get scheduled for a Saturday at 12.30 after a UEFA Cup game on a Thursday night if he is. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ergatrude 0 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Exactly what I was thinking Bluedell. Catch 22. It would be a travesty if they played 2 games in 3 days, but it's a travesty that they are playing on the Sunday. We couldn't win in this situation. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovanAllan 0 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Here comes the clarification confetti. Suck it up popcorn teeth no ex players dying or imaginary tours are going to save you this time. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Wasnt unfair during the 2008 run-in though, eh Neilly ? Integrity FC were more than happy to play first, and ensure the league season wasnt extended due to the invisible Japan tour..... KNOB ! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ergatrude 0 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Couldn't agree more Craig. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dutchy Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 So what's his solution to fairness? Are we to play on the Sunday afternoon when they have a TV game on the Sunday? Or does he propose that each half of the OF play thier games at the same time throughout the season. We need clarification you whinning wee shite, what a bam! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest superrcooper7 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 I don't normally swear, but what a whining, moaning ginger tosser that man really is!!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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