Lennon (far right) left his post-match media duties to Thompson (centre)

Celtic coach Alan Thompson is confident cordial relations will be restored between his manager Neil Lennon and Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist.

Lennon and McCoist clashed in the wake of Celtic's 1-0 Scottish Cup replay victory over Rangers.

"There was a handshake as there always is and Ally felt something happened in the game and mentioned it to Neil and there was a reaction," said Thompson.

"I'm sure Ally and Neil will sit down and sort that out between themselves."

And, asked if Lennon and McCoist would join in the customary post-match pleasantries, Thompson said: "I'm sure it will happen. I'm sure everyone will sit down and have a beer together."

Lennon elected not to speak to the media following the highly controversial match, which saw Mark Wilson score Celtic's winner and Rangers having two players sent off during the game and another after the final whistle.

"It's been well publicised about everything that's gone on and (Lennon's) six-game ban pending, things he's said and things are flying high at the end of the game in terms of tempers and he just thought it was better if he left it tonight," said Thompson.

There was also a touchline fracas at half-time, in which Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby appeared to remonstrate with some of the Rangers players as both sides came off the pitch.

"I don't know, I was first up the tunnel so I didn't see that," said Thompson. "I've learned my lesson."

Of the game itself, Thompson praised the performance of Celtic, who remain in the hunt for a domestic treble.

"We knew they'd come and try and frustrate us, get behind the ball," said the former Celtic player. "We had an idea from how they played in Lisbon last week, which got them a great result (against Sporting). We knew they'd frustrate us.

"We tried to keep playing, we tried to play the right way.

"I know people will say there were red cards and nine yellow cards. We got three yellow cards so we're delighted with the way the lads showed their discipline and kept trying to plug away and get goals.

"I think at times it got niggly. We re-iterated to the players before the game, 'we need to keep our discipline, we need to keep 11 players on the pitch, if anyone's going to lose it, let them lose it'.

It just shows you, you can't afford to get players sent off in these games and if you do, predominantly you're going to lose the game Alan Thompson

"We drummed that into the lads and the lads took it on board. We had a couple of lads on yellow cards early, (Scott) Brown and Daniel (Majstorovic) but they maintained their discipline and performed excellently.

"Our players were excellent tonight in footballing terms and in discipline terms so we're over the moon with that.

"We've won nothing yet. We're in the next round, we've got to go to Inverness, which will be tough; we've got a cup final against Rangers. We've got tough games ahead but the lads are in a good place.

"We're delighted with the way they've come on through the season. There's still a lot of hard work to be done."

And, asked if there was a danger of more flashpoints when the Old Firm meet again in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final later this month, Thompson added: "I hope not.

"It just shows you, you can't afford to get players sent off in these games and if you do, predominantly you're going to lose the game.

"We'll be saying the same to our players and I'm sure Walter (Smith) and Ally and Kenny (McDowell) will be saying the same to their players that they want to keep everyone on the pitch."

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