THEY scored the goals that put Celtic into this evening’s Scottish Cup semi-final draw and both were absolute screamers and goalkeeper Scott Bain has revealed that both skipper Scott Brown and James Forrest as senior pros in the dressing room had already done their bit through the week after Rodgers walked away after training on Monday to down the M74 towards England in a stunning act of betrayal that is unlikely to be forgiven anytime soon.
Michelle, on Radio 5 Live last night spoke for the Celtic support in a phone-in conversation with Chris Sutton and it is well worth a listen – see HERE.
Without Rodgers around, it was left to players like Brown, Forrest and Mikael Lustig – back in the team at Easter Road and excellent on and off the field for Celtic – sign him up please! – to help bring the calm and the re-assurance to the players.
“They are important no matter the circumstances outside the changing room, because in there they are fantastic boys and the club would be a different place without Broony,” the goalkeeper said to the media.
“He does so much for the boys and keeps the boys together and drives us through in training and demands the highest standards so he is massive for the club regardless what has been going this week outside the changing room.
“I think you can see from the two results just how professional the boys are. We have just got on with our work and implemented the same things that we have done before, and I think player wise nothing has really changed for us.
“We just wanted to go into these two big games and get the two wins and we’ve managed to do that.”
Bain has already something to thank Neil Lennon for as the then Hibs boss ended his Neil McCann induced Dundee hell by taking him to Easter Road prior to the loan move to Celtic that led to his permanent deal and then becoming the club’s Number 1 at the start of this year.
“We have won two out of two, so it’s been ok. I think it is too quick to start talking about whether we have changed systems. The gaffer has come in and basically continued the work we had been doing before. It was a successful blueprint and carrying that on has been working for us.
“We all know the gaffer. He brought me to Hibs and we know what he is about, and we want to do the best for him and we also want to do the best for ourselves. We have shown that in the last two games, shown how determined we are to maintain the success.
“It is great. Obviously, we’ve had to come to Edinburgh for two difficult games and the boys have shown unbelievable character and, most of all, quality. We have come through both the games with two wins.”
