MX23RW : Saturday, December 21 03:06:39| >> :120:49068:49068:
[monks data]
Attendance: 27,026
Rennes
Europa League | Group Stage
Sep 19, 2019 at 5.55pm UK
 
Celtic logo

1-1

Niang (38' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)
Christie (59' pen.)
Issouf Bayo (92')

Neil Lennon: 'Celtic the better team in Rennes draw'

The Hoops drew 1-1 with Rennes in France but Lennon felt some key decisions in the match went against his side.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon felt his side were well worthy of their point against Rennes – and could have had three if VAR was available in the Europa League.

Lennon was surprised video assistance was unavailable unlike the Champions League, and felt his side were denied a clear penalty in a game of two spot-kicks.

And the Hoops boss was left baffled by Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez's decision to send Vakoun Bayo off in the final minute after initially playing on.

Celtic held on through five minutes of stoppage time for a 1-1 draw after a confident display in their group opener in France.

Rash defending from Kristoffer Ajer handed Rennes a 37th-minute lead from the spot before Ryan Christie saw his pleas for a 51st-minute penalty fall on deaf ears after he was brought down in the box.

However, before Celtic did get a penalty eight minutes later for a foul on James Forrest and Christie converted to continue his side's unbeaten away record in Europe this season.

"I thought we were the better team," Lennon said. "I thought we were the better team first half and I was disappointed with the players coming in a goal down because we had really good control of the game.

"I thought we lacked a bit of composure first half because we worked the ball in good areas and we just rushed things a bit.

"I have no complaints about the penalty but I asked for a reaction at half-time and we certainly got that. We thoroughly merited a point if not the three points.

"It's a great start for us but you always want more. After we scored we sort of came off it a little bit but saw the game out quite comfortably. I'm not happy with the sending-off and we should have had another penalty, a clear penalty on Ryan Christie.

"However, I have got to be satisfied to come away from home and play very strongly against a good side. It speaks volumes for the character and quality of the team."

Bayo was booked for an aerial challenge before clipping home goalkeeper Edouard Mendy at a loose ball moments later.

Referee Sanchez played on but Mendy rolled about holding his face and Bayo got another card after a huge delay.

"It looked to me like the referee was waving play on," Lennon said. "I don't know if he was looking back at the goalkeeper who was holding his head when there was no contact with his face at all. If anything it was minimal across his midriff. The referee changed his mind. So I think Bayo can feel very hard done by by that decision.

"We are playing under the UEFA banner and I'm surprised we don't have (VAR) for this competition because if we had it, we would clearly have had another penalty."

ID:372044: cacheID:372044:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4702:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Christopher Jullien for Celtic pictured on September 1, 2019
Read Next:
Neil Lennon backs French trio to step up against Rennes
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Texans
@
Chiefs
9.30pm
Steelers
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio651016
2Athletic Bilbao651016
3Anderlecht642014
4Lyon641113
5Frankfurt641113
6Galatasaray633012
7Man Utd633012
8Rangers632111
9Spurs632111
10FCSB632111
11Real Sociedad631210
12Ajax631210
13Bodo/Glimt631210
14Roma62319
15Olympiacos62319
16Ferencvaros63039
17Plzen62319
18AZ62228
19Fenerbahce62228
20Porto62228
21Union SG62228
22Braga62137
23Elfsborg62137
24PAOK62137
25Midtjylland62137
26M. Tel Aviv62046
27Hoffenheim61326
28Besiktas62046
29Slavia Prague61144
30FC Twente60424
31Malmo61144
32Ludogorets60333
33Qarabag61053
34RFS60242
35Nice60242
36Dynamo Kiev60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!