The champions surrendered a two-goal lead against the Highlanders, which led Lennon to accuse certain players of comporting themselves in a manner which suggested they had been “tapped up” and that their minds were not on the game.
Mulgrew, though, insisted that the squad are intent on claiming a first league and Scottish Cup double since 2007, Lennon’s last season as a player at Parkhead.
“It was a long trip back on Saturday: it felt like six hours,” said Mulgrew, last season’s winner, speaking to publicise voting for PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year awards, sponsored by Cheque Centre.
“That was a disappointing result, especially after being 2-0 up, but we just need to look forward now and focus on Aberdeen to try and put the result right.
“I don’t think people’s heads are elsewhere. I just think it was a bad result and a bad performance.
“Maybe being so far ahead in the league played a part but at Celtic the fans demand you win every match and give 100 per cent in every match.
“We didn’t do that against Ross County but we are not getting too carried away with it. We flew back from Italy on Thursday and then were pretty much straight up to Dingwall.
“Players are tired and there have been a lot of games played this year but that’s not an excuse. We need to better. The manager demands a lot from and that is probably why we did so well in the Champions League. We got to the last 16 when no one expected that.”
Mulgrew, himself something of a dead-ball expert, joined the clamour for goal-line technology – or, at the very least, the use of television replays – following the failure of match officials to spot that Leigh Griffiths’s free-kick had crossed the line during the goalless draw with Hearts on Sunday.
“He must have been really disappointed,” he said. “It is an unbelievable free-kick from that distance. It was about four yards over the line: I think it touched the net.
“It happens so quickly for officials and I don’t know what kind of view [the assistant referee] had. But that is why I think we need goal-line technology.
“That was a big derby for Hibs and it means a lot to their fans. You could see the way they reacted when they thought it was a goal.
“We keep talking about it but are we ever going to do it? It’s hard to take when something like that happens.
“I can imagine the Hibs dressing room being gutted, especially as it was something that was no fault of their own. It’s just unfortunate it went against them.
“Even [checking replays] would take two minutes. I don’t know why they are talking about this big expense: surely there are cheaper ways.”
ST MIRREN LINE UP PURI MOVE
St Mirren manager Danny Lennon admits he might sign Estonia winger Sander Puri before Sunday’s Scottish Communities League Cup final. The 24-year-old, who is a free agent after leaving Finnish club KuPS, has been training with Saints after failing to win a deal with Kilmarnock. Lennon admitted hopes were fading that defender Lee Mair would recover from a stomach muscle injury in time to make the final.
NO RANKIN RED CARD APPEAL
Dundee United have confirmed they will not submit an appeal against John Rankin’s red card at St Mirren Park. The midfielder was shown a straight red by John Beaton for a two-footed tackle on John McGinn towards the end of the goalless clash on Saturday.
ROBERTSON FACES FORTNIGHT OUT
Aberdeen defender Clark Robertson faces two weeks out after assessment of his ankle injury provided good news for the Dons.
GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY TOO COSTLY
The Scottish Football Association plans to invest in training officials rather than expensive goal-line technology in a bid to minimise the type of error that denied Hibernian derby victory over Hearts.
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