Dons will pray for a Brown blow if they are to stand a chance

PLAYING on what you might call the Reverse Jorge Cadete Rule, it’s fair to say that Scott Brown seized the opportunity afforded him by the SFA’s observance of religious Bank Holiday traditions. Cleared to face Rangers because his red-card appeal has been delayed until next week, Brown was immense at Hampden. Following on the trend he’s set in this season of revival and revelation. All at Ibrox will be hoping that the Judicial Panel look unkindly upon the midfielder’s appeal this week. Because, if he is freed to play in Saturday’s Old Firm finale, the odds against a Celtic win — already sure to be slim — will tumble. There wasn’t a bad player in the Celtic side yesterday. Starters and subs, they all contributed to a performance of consummate control; if it looked easy, that’s only because of the hard work they put in. What really impressed was not merely the skill and physical strength the champions displayed, but their attitude. Utterly merciless, that’s what they’ve become under Brendan Rodgers. If that’s hardly a news flash, these constant reminders retain the ability to take the breath away. Against a team who might once have been considered rivals, a side who had held them to a draw in their last meeting, Celtic lined up with only four players who could be considered defensive. Good enough to win a Treble? Sure. In order to do so, they’ll have to beat the second best team in the country. Even if Aberdeen didn’t look quite worthy of that title in their semi-final on Saturday. The Dons will rise to the occasion of a Scottish Cup final, surely. They will contribute to a proper contest. But they may also be praying that Brown — barely asked to make a tough challenge yesterday — does something daft in the coming weeks. And that the SFA aren’t caught on their holidays again.