Celtic manager Neil Lennon has refuted allegations that his side's 1-0 defeat to Hibernian on Saturday was down to complacency.

Celtic fell to their fourth defeat of the season courtesy of Leigh Griffiths's early goal, raising suggestions that the absence of Rangers, their usual title rivals, have caused the Hoops to lower their own standards.

However, Lennon believes that the other teams have upped their level rather than his side lacking intensity.

"We didn't need a boot up the backside, that was not a reality check. There was no complacency from what I could see. I would take the same intensity of performance and the desire," said Lennon.

"There was a real hunger to win the ball back, there was a real hunger to win the game, it just didn't drop for us. The players will be highly motivated for Motherwell. It is another big game for us.

"There are a lot of teams playing well and scoring goals in the SPL."

Celtic currently sit six points clear at the top of the SPL table.