Neil Lennon is not bothered to be meeting Ally McCoist again for an Old Firm Derby. They last time they met at a game, in the Scottish Cup replay win last season, there three Rangers players sent off and there was an ugly confrontation at the end of the game between the benches led by Lennon and McCoist, which led to the infamous Old Firm summit chaired by First Minister Alex Salmond. With McCoist now Rangers manager, after taking over from Walter Smith in the summer, and facing his first of the famous game since then, all eyes will be on the Ibrox technical areas before, during and after the game. However, Lennon was not for looking back or raking over the coals of the incident, believing that far too much was made of his altercation with McCoist in the first place.
He said: "I don't want to even talk about that. It's history as far as I'm concerned and I'm sure it is for Ally. Yes, we have seen each other since then and we try not to make too much out of it. It's a new season. We had seven Old Firm games last season and only one of them spilled over and caused some controversy. That's not too bad."
Lennon has edge over McCoist in terms of managerial experience in their own right. However, the Lennon highlighted the fact that his Old Firm rival, whose side sit top of the table, is not a complete novice. He said: "Ally has been under Walter for three or four years, he knows the club very well, he has freshened things up a little bit and they have started the season very well. Their domestic form speaks for itself, they have a lot of power and a lot of attacking options with (Nikica) Jelavic, (Steven) Naismith and (Kyle) Lafferty and they are at home. Old Firm games are always intense and physical, played at a frenetic pace so I assume it will be no different. We will try to be as positive as we can and try to get a positive result."
Lennon still harbours hopes that captain Scott Brown and striker Anthony Stokes can prove their fitness for the trip to Govan. Brown is battling against an ankle problem while Stokes has a thigh complaint, and both missed the 2-0 Europa League Group I defeat by Atletico Madrid in Spain on Thursday night. Lennon said: "I think the majority of the team picks itself, really. We need to see about Stokes and Brown and see if they are in contention. But it's a question of keeping the players as fresh as possible. I thought we played well against Madrid. There will be a few tired legs but come tomorrow I think they should be well prepared."