NEIL LENNON has warned Sevco boss Mark Warburton he is heading for a Hampden meltdown in next month’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash against Celtic.
The former Hoops gaffer reckons the occasion will be too much for the Englishman who has never come up against the Parkhead side in his career and now faces a baptism of fire.
Lennon said: “Nothing will prepare Warburton for his first taste of the Old Firm (sic) as a manager. Ronny Deila won the League Cup semi-final last year and I just think Celtic will be too strong for them on the day.
“I just think that with the big-game experience Celtic have, they will win.
“I’m not sure Warburton’s Rangers (sic) side will have come up against as good a team as Celtic yet.
“There is a gap between the two sides. It may not be as big as it was when the two clubs met last season, but it is still there.
“There seems to be a lot of confidence about Rangers (sic) going into this game and a lot of negativity regarding Celtic.
“Having said that, Celtic are the champions and they are still going for the Double.
“There is a lack of experience in the Rangers (sic) side and there is also a lack of physicality. Celtic will be too strong for them in the end.”
The Hoops sauntered to a 2-0 win at Hampden last season on their way to beating Dundee United 2-0 in the final to lift the silverware.
An early header from Leigh Griffiths had their opponents on the ropes and Kris Commons walloped in a spectacular second before the interval.
Inexplicably, Deila ordered his players to adopt a possession-of-the-ball outlook in the second-half and the opportunity of a landslide victory was gone.
Maybe his thoughts will be different at Hampden on April 17.
