16 Sep 2012

Celtic lose again

1:10 pm on 16 September 2012

The Scottish football champions Celtic have slumped to their first defeat of the season, losing 2-1 away to St Johnstone.

The result leaves Celtic, who open their Champions League campaign against Benfica at Parkhead on Thursday NZT, with just two wins from their opening five Scottish Premier League matches.

Hoops manager Neil Lennon slammed his players for being distracted by their forthcoming Champions League fixtures and says he has now banned all talk of Europe as he aims to stop their stuttering start to the season.