Martin was right...NOTHING could have prepared me for my first Old firm match Mitre

Lennon recalls chaotic semifinal night at Hampden in 2001

- EWING GRAHAME

NEIL LENNON had played in Wembley cup finals and experienced the whitehot atmosphere inside the biggest grounds in England.

But not even the advice of his favourite manager could help him deal with his first experience of the unique madness of an Old Firm clash.

Like this Sunday it was a semifinal at Hampden, although in Lennon's case it was the League Cup on offer in February 2001.

Martin O'Neill had paid Leicester £6million for the Northern Ireland midfielder midway through the season.

And after being thrown in at the deep end, he admits he struggled to keep his head above water in the 100 miles per hour exchanges.

He said: "You have to remember that I'd been playing in the Premier League with Leicester for five seasons before I came up here, so I was used to going to places like Anfield and Old Trafford.

"But I was still shocked by the intensity of my Old Firm debut.

"Martin took me aside before the game and said, 'Listen Lenny, you won't have experienced anything like this' - he was right. I don't know what could've prepared me for it. The first half was a complete blur and it was also different because it was at Hampden under the lights.