Title: Lennon says a league title is his priority ahead of his side's cup clash with Falkirk Pic: © SNSpics
Celtic boss Neil Lennon has said that a league title win remains his priority ahead of his side's Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final tie against Falkirk at Hampden.
The Hoops are sitting at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League four points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers and awaiting a trip to Inverness in the William Hill Scottish Cup next week.
With 12 successive SPL wins under their belt, Lennon's men are expected to take care of the First Division side at the national stadium to keep them on track for the treble.
But the former Celtic skipper said that he remains focused on claiming the league title from holders Rangers.
He said: "We will set our sights that high but I wouldn't set my expectation level too high. The team I played in (that won the treble in 2001), it was the first time in 30 years so it is a very difficult thing to do.
"The title is the priority. If we finish with the title and nothing else then that's a good season for me."
However, the Irishman denied the League Cup could sidetrack his players from their ultimate goal. Lennon does not want a repeat their shock Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to First Division Ross County in 2010 when he was interim boss.
He added: "It is not a distraction as such. While you are still in it, you want to win every competition you can.
"The players are fully focused on every game as it comes and we will approach this game as if it was a Rangers game or a European game.
"It is important that we try to get to the final and go on to win it because to have that first trophy would set the season up very well. We have another cup game following on from this one and by the time we play Hearts we could be out of two competitions.
"So we have to be very concentrated over the next week or so. I am always confident but I am always wary as well. Every game throws up its own dangers. We are playing at a neutral venue, some of the players might not have played there before and it takes a bit of getting used to.
"It is a different ball, different competition and different opposition but there is a quiet confidence about the group."
Meanwhile, Falkirk players will hear very little from boss Steven Pressley ahead of the clash.
Pressley's youthful squad have already taken care of Rangers and Dundee United and sit second in the Irn-Bru First Division, but many of them will be making their first appearance at the national stadium.
But the former Scotland defender explained that most of his work will be complete before the Bairns' bus reaches Glasgow.
He said: "On a matchday I say very little to the players. All the preparation is done during the week and I trust them. I trust them in the manner they play and I trust them in their preparation.
"I like players to prepare in the manner they need to in order to get themselves focused. So there will be probably very little said on the day of the game.
"They can relax, they can enjoy it, build themselves up in whatever way they want and I believe they will be ready."
While Pressley's side are vastly inexperienced in comparison to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders, he does not believe that will necessarily disadvantage his players.
"People say you are lacking experience but sometimes experience is not positive," said the former Rangers, Celtic and Hearts defender.
"There are many experienced players that have done nothing but suffer defeat in semi-finals so their experience is negative.
"These young players have never had that disappointment of defeat in semi-finals so there will be no fear in their performance.
"I really do trust these players, as I said. There is a great excitement among the group of players, a genuine feeling that we can cause an upset if we get all aspects of the game right."
Regardless of the outcome, Pressley insists that Falkirk fans can have confidence in the club`s future.
"There are a lot of people in the background who have worked very hard," he said.
"People sometimes say that we are lucky to have these players. We are not lucky. It has been part of a plan for seven years.
"It has been hard work by many people in the background, setting up the academy, recruiting and developing these young players so it is not luck. "It has been a strategic plan and now it is beginning to deliver.
"And I think everyone connected to this club should be excited about the future."
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