Samaras and Stokes get bans.
Giorgios Samaras and Anthony Stokes will miss the Kilmarnock game on Sunday week after being booked in Sunday´s Old Firm game, reports the Glasgow Evening Times.
Both players will now serve a one-match suspension which takes effect two weeks after reaching the disciplinary points mark, although they be available for the matches against Dundee United this Sunday and Inverness Caledonian Thistle the following Wednesday.
Despite manager Neil Lennon hoping Stokes´ booking for a dive in the box could carry less than three points a caution for simulation has now been upgraded to a three-point offence, meaning the player will be suspended.
Meanwhile, Lennon is not allowing the bans to hide his pleasure at his side´s display at Ibrox, saying: “I haven’t thought about things like players being suspended.”
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Chief executive praises team effort.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has praised the club´s players, supporters and manager after Sunday´s 0-0 draw at Ibrox.
Speaking to the Celtic Official Website he said: “On behalf of the club I would like to applaud the manager and players for their magnificent efforts. It is also very important we thank our supporters, too, for the positive backing they gave the team.
“Clearly, it has been a difficult week for Neil and he deserves enormous praise for the way he has handled this very tough period. I know Neil has been very humbled by the support given to him by our fans during this time, and they were magnificent in the way they backed him and the team.
“They were a credit to the club and supported the team the Celtic way, and their backing will be vital over the final few weeks of the season.”
Ledley season may be over.
Midfielder Joe Ledley´s season may be over after he aggravated a hamstring injury in the Old Firm game.
The former Cardiff man picked up the injury in the 4-0 Scottish Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen, and after being sent for scans on Monday doctors have told him he faces at least three weeks on the sidelines.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, Ledley said: “All I have been doing is icing the leg since Sunday. It has been agony and I have never known anything like it. I can barely walk.
“I won’t know anything until the results come back. I’m a quick healer, so you never know, but it’s not looking good judging by how it feels.”
The Welshman added: “I’ll be gutted if I miss the run-in and the Cup Final so I’m hoping for a quick recovery.”
