• Scottish Cup

Lennon won't gag Brown over Diouf spat

ESPN staff
February 8, 2011
Scott Brown has been given the backing of his manager © Getty Images
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Celtic manager Neil Lennon has insisted he has no intention of stepping between Scott Brown and El Hadji Diouf.

The pair clashed throughout the 2-2 draw in the Scottish Cup on Sunday - with Brown having the final say when celebrating his equalising goal in front of Diouf.

Senegal forward Diouf claims Brown was taunting him for a reaction, something Brown has denied, and with the war of words seemingly showing no signs of slowing down, Lennon has no intention of gagging his captain.

"I look forward to seeing what he [Diouf] has to say tomorrow - he seems to have a daily column in the paper now," Lennon said. "He seemed to have a lot to say for himself after the game but I'll leave the taunts out of it.

"I'll leave Scott to sort that out because he seems to be coping with it very well.

"He [Diouf] can say what he likes about me - I'm not going to get into a war of words with him."

Lennon has insisted he did not send out his team with a gameplan of stopping Diouf play. He said: "I never made any specific plans for him either. I had enough to concentrate on with my own team."

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