Lewis Ferguson marvels at Celtic legend and Aberdeen puppet master Scott Brown

Celtic legend Scott Brown was resplendent in his Puppet Master role as theRangers dropped two points against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Tuesday night.

Ryan Kent was on the receiving end as he suckered the player into receiving a second yellow card, before kindly directing the player to the tunnel. As too was James Tavernier, who surprisingly rejected a comforting cuddle from Brown as he threatened to implode as the match unravelled for his team. There was even time for Scott Brown to enrage an already seething away support by counting out NINE fingers on his hands – I wonder what he meant with that one?

In between all of that however Scott Brown alongside the impressive Lewis Ferguson won the midfield battle on the night. And had it not been for yet another ‘honest mistake’ this time from Kevin Clancy denying a stonewall penalty for a clear foul from an onrushing Alan McGregor on Aberdeen midfielder Ryan Hedges, Aberdeen could have had the victory their efforts deserved and Celtic would be chasing a three-point deficit in the title race, rather than four. Some things never change!

Brown’s midfield partner, Lewis Ferguson as quoted in Daily Record certainly enjoyed Broony rolling back the years and taking up the roll of tormentor in chief and in comments sure to annoy Uncle Barry and Dad Derek, as well as the Ibrox support Ferguson admits like the rest of Scottish football he enjoyed the show.

He is not shy but that is just the way he is. You don’t expect anything less from him. He gives them a bit and they give him a bit. It is a bit of back and forth. It is funny for us because we can laugh at the fans and ‘Broonie’ messing about. It’s the way he is and the type of guy he is.

“He buzzes off it and that stuff helps him to play better when people are on top of him and giving him a bit. That is what brings the best out of him.”

And on that ‘honest mistake’ Ferguson also seemed perplexed as to why his team had been denied two penalties on the night.

“I thought so with the one in the first half. From where I was standing, the tackle on Hedges looked like a penalty. I have not watched it back or seen it. The ref has seen it and had a decision to make, although thankfully he got the one right with the handball, but it could have been two.”

Considering it was 750 days from the last one, perhaps Lewis Ferguson might consider himself lucky that Kevin Clancy risked the wrath of his SFA bosses by even awarding the one they got, after all I’m sure he had some Zoom call explaining to do on Wednesday morning as it was, imagine having to explain two spot kick awards.

theRangers however have already exhibited the fragile mentality that saw them seek to play on with crowds limited to 500 spectators. With dropped points at Pittodrie and with a Glasgow Derby 60,000 capacity coming up on 2 February, that slip up despite officiating assistance, under the watch of Puppet Master Scott Brown, may well have a significant bearing on the title race. They certainly didn’t look to be coping with pressure on Tuesday night.