Neil Lennon has warned former club Celtic that “underdogs bite” as his Dunfermline Athletic side aim to cause a Scottish Cup shock in Saturday’s final.
The former Celtic captain and manager says some have pedalled a “disrespectful” narrative in the build-up to this weekend’s showpiece occasion at Hampden.
The Championship side have beaten top-flight Hibernian, Aberdeen and Falkirk on their way to the final, which Lennon believes has fuelled an “inner belief”.
“It’s not a day out for us,” the 54-year-old says.
“I’ve seen a lot of comments this week about Martin [O’Neill] picking up the trophy with Callum McGregor and if he’d have been here earlier in the season, he would have been winning a treble.
“I wouldn’t dismiss us. We’re the underdogs, but underdogs bite.”
Dunfermline go into the final on the back of having their Premiership promotion hopes ended by a play-off semi-final defeat by Partick Thistle last week.
Asked if he was annoyed by those who he feels have written his side off, Lennon added: “Yes. It just adds fuel for me, so it’s great. It’s disrespectful which, again, I don’t mind.
“We will come – I wouldn’t say brimming full of confidence – but with an inner belief that we can achieve something here. We’re under no illusions as to how difficult that’s going to be.”