Scott Brown is slowly coming to the end of his shelf life as a Celtic player, but there is no doubting his leading presence on the pitch – especially in the derby – as he put in another stellar performance today in the 1-1 draw at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.
Brown, who played in this 39th game against Rangers in Celtic colours, led the team to a draw which, in hindsight, should have been put out of sight by half-time. Broony berated his sides’ inability to put the game beyond doubt, but also took pride in how well they played and how refereeing decisions didn’t help the cause.
“I thought we played very well today, especially in the first half where we could’ve had three or four by the break. We had a penalty denied as well, it was a stonewaller – there’s no need for Odsonne (Edouard) to go down, there is definitely contact and we have seen that at half time.”
“It is one of those where you could go in at half time 2-0 up and it totally changes the game, but they’ve managed to get back in the game. We had enough chances to win the game – I thought we were very good today across the whole ninety minutes.”
Brown knowingly – and hilariously – failed to publicly acknowledge who scored theRangers’ goal. His past spats with Alfredo Morelos were evidently fresh in his mind as he bemoaned the nature of the equaliser.
“It’s a bit unlucky, it’s probably a foul on Jonjoe, they get a flick-on from the corner and whoever it is scores at the back post as well, which is one of those– but the team played much better today and we have been this season – we probably deserved three points.
“For the lads now, it is playing for the next season, too. We don’t know what’s going to happen, whether it is under John (Kennedy) or a new manager, you’re playing for your position.”
“I think across the whole season we have played some great football, but just can’t get the ball in the back of the net – and they have one shot on target and score one goal. It has been a hard season for us, but we have come back over the last three games to fight which again shows that pride that we know we have in us.”
“We’ve got the Scottish Cup to look forward too now, so we will look to finish the season as high as we possibly can and keep winning games. For the lads now, it is playing for the next season, too. We don’t know what’s going to happen, whether it is under John (Kennedy) or a new manager, you’re playing for your position.”
Broony was also asked about his exceptional gesture before the game, in which he went up to Glen Kamara to show solidarity with theRangers midfielder. Kamara has come under abhorrent racial abuse online by Slavia Prague fans over the last 72 hours, following the alleged racist comments made on the pitch by Slavia’s Ondrej Kudela in Thursday night’s Europa League tie. Brown went over into theRangers’ half in the warm-up to show solidarity with Kamara, before both teams refused to ‘take the knee’ to send a message out to those giving the racial abuse.
“I think it’s disgusting to be perfectly honest, it doesn’t matter whether it is a Rangers player or a Celtic player, whoever it is, it shouldn’t be a part of the game. It just shows that we are with them and stand with them on racism, and it shows the respect that a fellow professional should show.”
