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Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew has described manager Neil Lennon's weekend spat with some supporters as "heat of the moment".

Lennon was involved in a verbal exchange with home fans during Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Inverness CT.

The manager said he "would go" if the supporters were unhappy with his record.

But Mulgrew said: "It shows passion and what passion for the club the fans have."

Celtic are within one game of reaching the last-16 of the Champions League but the loss to Inverness means they have taken just one point from their last three league games at home.

Despite the slips, the defending Scottish Premier League champions are top of the table with a game in hand.

Mulgrew said the players were determined to halt their domestic slump but also defended the supporters' right to vent their frustration.

"It's passion and wanting us to win and the manager also wanting us to win," said the Scotland international.

"The fans obviously care and it shows with the way they supported us in Barcelona and different games this year.

"It's just heat of the moment and I don't think there's anything to be taken from it to be honest.

"(Fans) pay their money to come and watch the match and they have their views. Nobody says they can't have a view on what's happening.

"It shows passion and what passion for the club the fans have. There's a lot of expectation, especially at home in the league; we have to live up to that and take whatever stick the fans give us."

Mulgrew said Celtic aimed to get back to winning ways against Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday.

"We were very disappointed but need to pick ourselves up very quickly," he added.

"It's a good thing we've got a game coming up so quickly."