Neil Lennon believes Michael Beale did the right thing against Partick Thistle and it would be the SAME in an Old Firm.
The Rangers boss allowed the Scottish Championship outfit a walk-through goal in the Scottish Cup fifth round clash at Ibrox. Malik Tillman's Ibrox flashpoint put the home side 2-1 up but the Light Blues boss told his players to allow the visitors to run from kick-off and level up the scoring.
The home side would go on to win the tie 3-2 in the end to earn a quarter-final clash with Raith Rovers. The goal was a major talking point in the aftermath of the showdown. But Celtic hero Lenny was in agreement with the Rangers gaffer and would do the same thing. He said: "Michael Beale did the right thing. You don't want to win the game the way they would've done had Rangers not let Partick Thistle score. It's the right thing to do in any game, in any situation - even the Old Firm. You don't want to win an Old Firm like that."
READ MORE: Neil Lennon names Celtic Rangers combined XI as he picks NO Gers stars but makes 'admire' claim
Lennon - currently on the hunt for his next job opportunity - enjoyed two stints in charge at Celtic while his latest role produced a domestic cup success in Cyprus with Omonia Nicosia. He also took his side into the Europa League group stages alongside Manchester United but it was domestic results that brought an end to his time in charge.
He has signed many players over the years but one he missed out on sticks out for him - while he admits to 'begrudgingly admiring' a number of Rangers players.
He told Football Betting : "I regret not signing Ivan Toney before he went to Brentford. I was really interested in him. We were close to getting him and he's gone on to do brilliant things.
"I definitely didn't want to sign anyone from the blue side of Glasgow! They had some good players like Jelavic, Steven Naismith and Steven Davis - they were players that I begrudgingly admired."
Michael Beale and Ange Postecoglou battle it out at Hampden tomorrow with the League Cup up for grabs. Both managers will have key men they will heavily lean on in that Old Firm battle with Lennon naming his go to man. It won't come as a suprise to many that he named Scott Brown as he hailed his 'great leader and player'.
He added: "Scott Brown was the one player I could rely on. He liked the big games and he was a similar type of player to myself. A great leader and player.
"In all the big games, he was always at the forefront of everything positive we tried to do.
"He always stamped his authority on games and dominated games for me - even when I first came in after the brilliant Tony Mowbray left - who was very prominent in me getting the job in the first place."
READ NEXT:
- Neil Lennon names Celtic Rangers combined XI as he picks NO Gers stars but makes 'admire' claim
- Fashion Sakala's Celtic 'other mob' dig earns Cameron Carter-Vickers measured response
- The Daizen Maeda 'nightmare' Rangers must be wary of as pundit makes Jota comparison
- Alan Brazil's Celtic sing-along disrupted by Rangers tune as he reveals cup final 'worry'
