Celtic manager Neil Lennon has reflected on his furious reaction to the Ross County Scottish Cup semi-final loss that could have cost him his first crack at the job.
On this day 10 years ago the Hoops were beaten 4-0 by St Mirren in Paisley, prompting the board to sack Tony Mowbray and put Lennon in interim charge.
But his prospects of getting the job permanently were damaged by a galling 2-0 loss to the Highlanders at Hampden, after which the caretaker boss slaughtered his players in the media.
Reflecting on that match Lennon told Celtic's website : "I was just very angry with the players.
"They didn’t show the right attitude on the day and it was only my third game in charge. We’d beaten Kilmarnock and then Hibs, and then it was the semi-final at Hampden against Ross County.
“There was a lack of application and attitude on the day, and I came out and said some really strong words, but I meant it, and it seemed to have the desired effect for the rest of the season."
Lennon had been strident in his criticism of the Celtic players he inherited, and later revealed he had fined Edson Braafheid for leaving the stadium while the match was still in progress.
He said: "There are things you can give players - information, tactics - but there are two things you can't give them - hunger and desire, and we were found wanting.
"County wanted it more. It has been endemic all season. We have gone out of every competition with a whimper."
