Neil Lennon lays into players after Celtic lose at home to St Mirren for the first time in 30 YEARS

Neil Lennon on Saturday night admitted the club's first home defeat to St Mirren in more than 30 years has left him at his lowest ebb as Celtic manager.

Now a full 23 points behind Premiership leaders Rangers with just two games in hand, Lennon claimed the pressure of claiming Ten in a Row had proved too much for some of his men.

Asked if he felt his players were letting him down, he replied: 'Honestly, at this minute I think yes they are. And they have done for quite a while this season. It's difficult to turn it round. You are looking for motivation, ideas. We have tried different formations. We haven't changed our philosophy or training programme.

'I just think the mindset of some of the players has changed.

'If we play like that, with no intensity and no will to win, just fulfilling a fixture, we are going to win nothing.

'I would say this is the lowest point over the six years I have been manager here.'

First appointed in 2010, Lennon kicked off the nine-in-a-row era with three titles in his first spell and has claimed a further two since stepping in to replace Brendan Rodgers in 2019.

When queried if this latest setback would cause him to reconsider his own future, he responded: 'Not really, no. This is a real test of adversity and you have got to show strength.

'I want to show strength but I really need some support and performances from my players. Too many of them have been insipid this season to say the least.

'Look, whatever walk of life you are in you need to have a form of professional pride. Especially at a club like this.

'To be fair to the players, over the years they have done, that but it has been sadly lacking this season.

'Maybe the pressure of doing the Ten has been too much for them. Maybe they have just got tired of winning, tired of playing in Scotland, tired of living in Scotland,

I don't know. That's a question you need to ask them.'

Lennon conceded he is at a loss to explain the pronounced drop in standards since Covid-19 first forced the country into lockdown in March of last year.

While the lack of crowds has clearly had a destabilising effect on Celtic, the manager counters that argument by pointing out that it should be in some respects easier for the team to play without the pressure of an expectant audience.

He said: 'It can't be a lack of confidence. There's nobody here, there's no pressure on the players. You're asking them to go out and follow up on a good performance during the week.

'There has been no consistency at all. We have gone from being a really good team at the beginning of the lockdown, to coming back in and the attitude and intensity and behaviour has all dissipated for whatever reason.

'Individuals' level of performance and levels of fitness ? ultimately, yes, I am responsible for that. So that's why I have taken heavy criticism this season. But other people should be accountable, too.'

With Christopher Jullien out injured, Nir Bitton forced off during yesterday's 2-1 defeat and Shane Duffy having another troubled afternoon, Lennon hopes to add a defender before Monday's transfer deadline.

Preston's Ben Davies has been lined up for a pre-contract deal but the Parkhead boss would like to see a permanent switch brought forward if possible.

'We'd like that to happen but again I can't say for sure if that's going to happen or not,' said Lennon. 'We are hoping to get some business done over the next day or two.'

Newcastle United are also reported to have made a loan enquiry for Hoops midfielder Olivier Ntcham, who is understood to be keen to leave Glasgow.

Lennon admits he has struggled to comprehend the desire of several top stars to bail out on the club during what promised to be a historical season.

He first raised the subject after Champions League defeat to Ferencvaros in August, and his words have echoed throughout a season of under-performance in which European failure has been matched by domestic capitulation that has seen the quest for a tenth successive title wither.

In midweek, it was young full-back Jeremie Frimpong who jumped ship first, transferring to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth around £10million.

Lennon has been reluctant to elaborate on his earlier comments. However, the manager admits the issue has cast a pall over the campaign. 'I think I made that clear after the Ferencvaros game and I don't think things have changed that much since then,' he said.

'The disparity in what we can pay and what these big clubs in the UK and Europe can pay has grown.

'The excitement that Celtic brings, the chance to win trophies and compete in Europe in front of a passionate crowd is something other clubs cannot offer, but sometimes money talks and these guys want to go.

'I am not convinced, all the time, that they progress their careers, but certainly they might be financially better off.'

Meanwhile, Celtic have confirmed that midfielder Scott Robertson, 19, has left to join Doncaster Rovers until the end of the season.