THE war of words between Neil Lennon and Kenny Shiels escalated yesterday when the Celtic manager described his Kilmarnock counterpart as "an unconscious comedian" in the mould of David Brent and questioned whether he had a "personal agenda" against the Parkhead club.

Lennon, speaking after his side's 3-1 loss to Motherwell, was responding to Shiels' remarks last week when he called Celtic "Paranoid FC" after Lennon had expressed his disappointment that none of his players had made the shortlist for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year awards. Those comments did not sit well with Lennon.

"Kenny has always had plenty to say about our club," said the Celtic manager. "He just likes to ramble on in little monologues. He's a bit like David Brent sometimes, an unconscious comedian.

"I do take exception to the paranoid comment. That has been thrown at our club for the last 15 to 20 years but I think the last three or four have proved we are not paranoid, we are just right.

"Nothing surprises me from Kenny. He has had a couple of barbed pops at the team and the club over the past few years. I don't know if he has a personal agenda against us, you will need to ask him that. I don't really have much to do with him. I do my job and he has got to do his, although he does seem to have an opinion on everybody else's job."

Lennon had said last week none of the four candidates for the player of the year accolade would get into his team and stood by that comment, despite Michael Higdon, one of the nominees, scoring a penalty yesterday for his 26th goal of the season. "I like Higdon and he is a real handful but while he got his goal from the penalty spot I didn't think he really troubled us today," added Lennon.

"I think all the candidates have had fine seasons and I am not trying to take the gloss away from those players. My bone of contention is how none of our players are in the running for it."

Higdon, in turn, felt some of Lennon's comments had been "uncalled for" and admitted they spurred him on. "Maybe a little bit," said the Motherwell striker. "I understand what Neil is saying about no-one from his team being nominated but he could have gone about it a different way.

"I'm not bothered about him saying I wouldn't get into his team, it's recognising who has had a good season. I was happy to be nominated and I've been playing consistently well. I think some of the things said have been a bit uncalled for. I'm grateful we went out today and proved we were a good team who deserve to be where we are."

Lennon had rested several players with a view to them being fresh for the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Hibernian as well as next season's Champions League qualifiers, and had no regrets at doing so, despite the defeat. Celtic scored first through Gary Hooper before goals from Henrik Ojamaa, Higdon and an own goal from Fraser Forster sealed the win for Motherwell.

"These games at the moment are a trade-off," added Lennon. "We are forward planning for the cup final and there will be another five players getting away [today] for a week to 10 days.

"I've got to do it because they are not going to have a summer and we are back in for pre-season in the third week of June. I will have everybody back for the St Johnstone game and that should give us enough time to prepare for the cup final."

The win clinched Motherwell's berth in the Europa League qualifiers next season, something that pleased manager Stuart McCall. "I'm proud of the staff and the players," he said.

"I always say you've got to score first against the Old Firm to have any chance of winning but that blows my theory. Both teams could have scored more and everyone, certainly from a Motherwell side, can go home feeling entertained."