Neil Lennon swipes at 'pedantic' Hearts as Rangers badge row dismissed as NONSENSE

Neil Lennon has taken a swipe at 'pedantic' Hearts - and branded the row over Rangers covering up their badge as 'a non-story.'

Social media was set aflame on Sunday night after the Sky Sports Cup final which Rangers won 4-1 against Partick Thistle in Gorgie. Tynecastle hosted the showpiece final and a snap showing the iconic Hearts crest on the floor covered up by the Rangers emblem sparked an angry reaction from some fans.

A club statement soon followed in which they said they were 'extremely disappointed' by the unwelcome decoration. They claim they didn't approve it and vowed to 'ensure that our club crest is never defaced again.' The statement also expressed disappointment that the outcry has dominated much of the post-match talk rather than the football itself. But former Celtic and Hibs boss Lennon wasn't having it as he spoke to PLZ Soccer.

The unperturbed pundit said: "When you go to Hampden, you get your own branding in each of the dressing rooms, whether it's a semi-final or a final. Obviously the girls, or Rangers, thought it was the same thing to do at Tynecastle. For me it's nothing, just pick it up, say 'thanks Hearts for the venue, we've won the cup.' It's so pedantic.

"And then they're saying it's a pity the focus has been taken away from the final. But you're the ones making the statement and the noises. It's a non-story, just let it go. They're appealing to a small minority."

Record Sport columnist Tam McManus also chimed in as he said: "It's a non-story. It's nonsense. Maybe it's a slow weekend for stuff to talk about in Scottish football. It's a neutral venue. I think it's a nonsense and I can't believe we're talking about it."