Hearts manager Craig Levein hits back at Neil Lennon after he criticised his team's physical approach: 'Don't make me laugh, Lenny, you made a career out of kicking opponents'

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Craig Levein has hit back at Neil Lennon’s scathing criticism of Hearts’ physical approach by claiming the former Celtic captain made a career out of kicking opponents.

Frustrated after this week’s goalless draw at Tynecastle, Hibs boss Lennon insisted the Gorgie side had ‘kicked us off the park’ in October’s game at Easter Road and ‘were trying to do the same thing again’ on Wednesday night.

Levein maintained his men were just displaying the kind of battling spirit so badly lacking from Hearts sides in recent derbies. 

Hearts boss Craig Levein laughed off criticism from his Hibernian counterpart Neil Lennon

And, in words sure to add even more spice to next month’s Scottish Cup clash between the capital rivals at the same venue, Levein said he didn’t ‘go running to my mummy’ when his players were targeted by Hibs in midweek.

‘Lenny forgets I watched him play,’ he said. ‘I’ve got to laugh. He made a career out of kicking people. I mean, it’s a derby match. And that (being physical) is the thing in the last two or three years that we have maybe been accused of not doing.

‘It’s just not been acceptable. We can’t get steamrollered by Hibs. The Hearts supporters just won’t have it.

‘Lenny is making a point, but I remember in the first five minutes (Anthony) Stokes elbowing one of our players in the face.

Lennon accused Hearts of kicking Hibernian off the park during Wednesday's goalless draw

The Hibernian boss was infuriated by some of the challenges during the Edinburgh derby

‘But I’m not going to go running to my mummy and say: “The big boy hit me and ran away.” There is no point in that.

‘If you want, we can go through the game and talk about every situation. It was just a proper derby match. I’m not sure the ball was required, to be honest with you.’

Meanwhile, Jamie Walker’s potential move to Wigan - with Latics midfielder Jack Byrne possibly heading the other way - could be up in the air after the Hearts midfielder injured his knee against Hibs.

Levein suggested Lennon made a career out of kicking people during his playing days

Levein said: ‘Jamie Walker is away for a scan. We’ll wait and see how he is but I would think he’s out of the Aberdeen game on Saturday.

‘There’s been some interest from Wigan but I honestly couldn’t tell you if Jack (Byrne) would be part of that deal.

‘It’s quite complicated, and obviously it’s even more complicated now Jamie’s hurt his knee.

‘I don’t know if or how any injury would affect things. There’s nothing done or decided.’