THE boos and jeers which rang out from the away end at Rugby Park following the final whistle on Sunday afternoon took Scott Brown back.
The former Celtic captain, who was working at his old club’s cinch Premiership match against Kilmarnock for Sky Sports, enjoyed far more successes than he suffered failures during the 14 years that he spent at Parkhead.
But Brown was certainly on the receiving end of his fair share of vitriol and abuse from the Glasgow giants’ notoriously demanding supporters after bad results in his time.
So he fully expected Celtic fans to voice their displeasure at the 2-1 defeat in Ayrshire - and he has not been in the slightest bit surprised by the hysterical fallout to a loss which gives Rangers the chance to move to within two points of them in the league table.
Yet, the former Scotland internationalist is completely confident in the ability of Brendan Rodgers, who he played under for two-and-a-half seasons towards the tail end of his career, to turn things around and enjoy a successful 2023/24 campaign.
Asked yesterday if he thought Rodgers would sort out the situation at a media event to promote the sponsor’s television coverage of the Viaplay Cup final between Aberdeen and Rangers at Hampden on Sunday, he said: “Yeah, he will.
“To be fair, Kilmarnock have done really well. They have beaten Celtic and they have beaten Rangers at home so take nothing away from Kilmarnock. It is not all about Celtic doom and gloom, this is about how well Killie have done too.
“I thought Celtic played really well in the first half. They created a lot of chances, I know Killie hit the bar and (Alistair) Johnston had that block. But I thought Celtic controlled the half really well.
“But on that pitch you can’t play the same style as you can on most of them. It’s quite hard to have that build-up from the back and play throughout the lines because the ball bobbles, jumps and it’s not the same kind of game.
“Del tried to get after Celtic and I thought Killie played well second half. The two wingers were exceptional. They defended really well, stopped Celtic having chances and got in their faces.
“But Brendan will be calm and collected. Sometimes you rage and sometimes you have that understanding. He will step back, he will reflect on the game and they will go again.
“They have got a big European game on Wednesday (Celtic play Feyenoord in their final Champions League group game tomorrow evening at Parkhead) and then Hearts at home on Saturday. He will be looking to bounce back as well. Hopefully they can change everyone’s mindset.
“January is coming around and there are a lot of players who will move out and move in. It is part and parcel of football. I am sure he has got his eye on a few.”
Brown felt the absence of four key players – Liel Abada, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda – cost Celtic dear on the artificial pitch in Kilmarnock and is anticipating an improvement in the weeks and months ahead as they return.
“Carter-Vickers is a big miss for them because he is the core of that defence,” he said. “He keeps Liam Scales or Nat Phillips intact, he leads by example at the back. He is composed, very good, on the ball and will build attacks.
“The thing is you can squeeze the line with him because he is quick, strong and believes in himself. It becomes a different game with Nat and Liam. He is a huge miss.
“You are also missing Abada, Hatate and Maeda – that is four key players that Celtic are missing. And they are still doing well, still sitting top of the league. They will be two points clear going in to the Glasgow derby if Rangers win their game in hand.”
Brown, though, always suspected his old mentor would return to Parkhead one day because he knows the club is so dear to his heart. He realises how determined the Northern Irishman will be to retain the Premiership and lift the Scottish Cup this term.
“He loved it here, he really did love his time,” he said. “His family are up here as well so it is a good place for him. He is a huge Celtic fan as well. The club means a lot to him.
“I know he went down to England. He did fantastic with Leicester as well. For him to have that opportunity, and also Celtic to have that opportunity, but for him to come back was a no brainer.”
Rodgers has bemoaned the number of young “project players” he has in his Celtic squad this season and Brown, who spent over a decade meeting the expectations of their vast support, can understand exactly why.
However, the man who has coached with Aberdeen and managed Fleetwood Town in England since leaving the East End of Glasgow, is certain the defending Scottish champions will come good in time.
“It is hard to go from zero to hero overnight,” he said. “Especially the way Brendan expects you to play and train daily. But he knows that and he builds people up. He is very good at that.
“Tactically, he is exceptional. His training methods and his understanding of the game are top and that is why Celtic have brought him back, because they believe he can go on and win trophies, as he did the first time he was here.
“It is a new set of lads. The only guys who have been there before are Bainy (Scott Bain), Cal (Callum McGregor) and Jamesy (Forrest). It is a fresh start for him and a new project and I am sure he will cherish it.”
Scott Brown was promoting Viaplay’s live and exclusive coverage of Rangers v Aberdeen in the Viaplay Cup final. Viaplay is available to stream from viaplay.com or via your TV provider on Sky, Virgin TV and Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription.
