WE KNEW ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS TURN UP, SAYS BROWN

SCOTT BROWN was never in any doubt about the outcome. Dismissive of the threat posed by Rangers, he argues yesterday’s Scottish Cup semi-final was determined solely by Celtic’s attitude.

As soon as he knew that Brendan Rodgers’ side had brought their regular game to Hampden’s wide spaces, Brown believed there would only be one winner.

Another Old Firm game looms in five days’ time. The midfielder will be required to win a red-card appeal in front of Thursday’s SFA Judicial Panel to be able to take part in that one.

He would not, however, view his absence as cause for huge optimism at Ibrox. While expecting a more positive performance from Pedro Caixinha’s men in the final derby of the season, Brown claims there will also be fear in their ranks at the counter-attacking punch within Celtic’s armoury.

‘We enjoyed that today and played really well,’ he said. ‘It was a really professional performance from start to finish. We knew if we turned up, we’d win the game — and we did that.

‘It was all about our movement and how fit and how sharp we are. We showed that in bundles.

‘We just keep pressing on and now we’ve got five league games to go and a Cup final. Everyone’s playing for a position in that final.

‘We knew they were going to sit deep and couldn’t press us. They don’t have the legs that we’ve got or the quality. We showed that yet again.

‘It will be different on Saturday. It was always going to be different going to Ibrox. They’ve got to come out and try to press and create chances.

‘They’re going to be scared with the pace we’ve got on the counter attack. They’ll need to watch out for that.’

A 1-1 draw at Parkhead last month had given Rangers belief they were edging closer to their rivals. In the end, though, there was precious little genuine competition offered. The comfortable way in which Celtic recorded a 2-0 win to move closer to the Treble stood in stark contrast to Brown’s emotions 12 months previously. Then, he had toiled in the centre of the field as Mark Warburton’s Rangers claimed a penalty shoot-out success. ‘We enjoyed this one from start to finish,’ said Brown (pictured with Rodgers). ‘We knew if we turned up, then we’re the best team in Scotland and we showed that again today. ‘In the semi-final last year, we were disappointed. It was the worst we could ever play. It was the best they could ever play. They got lucky on penalties. But we’ve shown our quality again today and managed to get through. ‘In the last 15 minutes, they were always going to throw everything at us. But we stayed strong and kept a high line and could have created a couple more chances on the counter attack with the pace we’ve got.’ The tone was set in the 11th minute. A long pass forward from Mikael Lustig, a smart lay-off from Moussa Dembele and an unerring first-time finish from Callum McGregor. Brown feels his midfield colleague would be worthy of international recognition, with England at Hampden in June. ‘Callum’s very underrated, he goes under the radar,’ argued Brown. ‘But he’s a great player. He’s unbelievable in that he always shows for the ball. He works extremely hard in the gym and out on the pitch. He’s showing now how good he is.

‘Callum’s an unsung hero but not within the squad. We know how good he is and he’s appreciated by all of us.

‘It’s great to have a player like Callum to add to what we’ve got in midfield. It’s also good for Scotland with the three of us in midfield, me and Stuart (Armstrong), too.

‘We all seem to be playing a lot together and we’re enjoying it.

‘But then you’ve also got people like Tom Rogic and James Forrest coming off the bench, Leigh Griffiths, too. It shows the strength in depth we’ve got. You look at the quality we’ve got coming off the bench and it must scare people.

‘I don’t see why Callum can’t be involved for the England game. Look at the way he’s playing just now. He’s in fantastic form.’

Dembele’s hamstring injury inside half an hour provided the only real sour note of Celtic’s afternoon.

Brown, though, is confident Griffiths will successfully step up as the 32-goal French striker faces a fight to be fit for the final against Aberdeen on May 27.

‘We’ve got no worries about Leigh coming in,’ added the 31-year-old. ‘He might now get a run in the team and he’ll show his qualities. But we all know what he can do. He scored 40 goals last season. He’s been a bit unlucky with injuries this season. When Moussa’s been injured, he’s been injured.

‘He’ll come through the next six games if necessary and show his quality.

‘Leigh’s been waiting for his opportunity. He does it in training every day. He scores goals and works so hard, it’s incredible. It would appear he’s going to get game time now and he can show everybody what he can do.’

Brown remains reluctant to talk of securing the Treble, insisting Aberdeen are ‘definitely the toughest team we could be playing in the final’.

His immediate focus is Thursday’s hearing at Hampden as he contests the sending off for a lunge on Ross County’s Liam Boyce eight days ago.

‘I’ve got to go up to the SFA now and see if my appeal comes through and if I can play on Saturday or not,’ he added.

‘If not then someone else will come in. We’ve got strength in depth. There’s also Nir Bitton, Eboue (Kouassi) and Liam Henderson. I might get a wee rest!’