NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HEAD BHOY

Brown’s reinvention shows why Rodgers was so keen to see red card downgraded

THE default position when the chips are down is invariably to accentuate the positives. Those viewing their football world as a glass half-empty are normally not long for it.

Occasionally, however, no degree of top-spin can alter the reality of a situation.

As Celtic contemplated playing at Ibrox today without Scott Brown, no one was of a mind to pretend that it just didn’t matter.

Brendan Rodgers has a sizeable, versatile squad at his disposal. He has a plethora of central defenders, wingers who can be chopped and changed.

Even the loss of his first-choice striker can still be viewed as a door opening for another.

While a failure to have had Brown’s red card downgraded to a yellow this week would have seen the Celtic manager dutifully juggle his personnel and formation, it would have been pointless to pretend it was immaterial.

From the broken, immobile figure who was very much second best in last year’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers, the 31-year-old has been completely transformed into what Rodgers described this week as ‘the most influential player in the country’.

While it may be true that one man does not make a team, who would care to dispute that Brown’s value to Celtic at this moment in time is almost impossible to quantify?

‘I think he is a unique player in the sense that he optimises Celtic in many ways,’ said midfield team-mate Stuart Armstrong. ‘Of course, it’s a lot nicer to have him in the team than out of it.

‘But we’ve got a very good depth of squad here and I think everyone will want to play their part. With Scott, though, his performances and his effort throughout the games have shown he’s a true leader.

‘He’s respected very much. He’s a terrific player, there’s no doubt about it. He’s our leader.’

Even Brown’s most one-eyed critic would surely concede as much. While the arrivals of Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair have grabbed most of the goals and the glory for Rodgers’ Treble-seeking side this season, the consistency and quality of Brown’s displays have been the cornerstone of the success to date.

For a player who was once considered to be more of an athlete than a footballer, the Fifer’s technical excellence has long been apparent.

As much as he can chase and harry as well as the next man, it’s been his ability to dictate the play and thread intricate passes that have come to characterise what’s been, without doubt, his finest term in a Celtic jersey.

His pass completion statistics in the Champions League hammered home the point.

Of all players who played every minute of action in the group stage, only Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos (95.3 per cent) boasted a better completion rate than the Scot (94.2 per cent). A hand-in-glove fit for the possession-based creed Rodgers preaches.

Last Sunday at Hampden, no one in light blue had any answer to him. Whether they have the wherewithal to pose more taxing questions today will go a long way to deciding the outcome. ‘They’ll be looking to win just as much as we will,’ Armstrong added. ‘They’re at home as well so they’ll have the crowd behind them.

‘There was a lot of pressure on us in the semi-final but we performed well. ‘Saturday will be another difficult game because they’ll be looking to get some revenge. I don’t think you could ever describe these games as non-pressurised. There’s always something to play for, so it’s going to be tough.’

The injury-enforced absence of Dembele aside, it would indeed be a surprise if Rodgers deviates too far from the selection that progressed to the Scottish Cup semi-final last weekend with something to spare.

Only something unforeseen could surely alter a central midfield trio that had the balance of an Olympic gymnast.

It was a combination of Brown’s omnipotence, Armstrong’s poise and Callum McGregor’s craft that led to Rodgers declaring the collective effort in the first half a ‘masterclass’.

‘When the three of us play it always works well. It’s a good combination,’ Armstrong opined.

‘Callum is a very good player, he’s very tidy and very good with his passing. He’s got good awareness and creativity and he scores goals as well.

‘His finish against Rangers at Hampden was a very good one.

‘He used the defender just to bend the ball around and into the net. It’s difficult in a big game like that to keep your composure but Callum has those qualities.

‘I thought he was excellent at Hampden, as he has been whenever he’s been called on.

‘He’s a very good player and I think he showed that with his goal. I had a great view of it and it was a great finish.

‘His composure and touch were great throughout.’

Every Old Firm game throws up its own sub-plots.

Last week’s clash was rich with them — Pedro Caixinha’s first taste of the fixture, Rangers’ attempt to reach the final and simultaneously deny Celtic the Treble — to name but two.

Truthfully, the stakes today are not quite as high. Which is not to say it’s in any way meaningless.

For Caixinha to be denied a performance from his players for a second successive week would be hugely damaging.

The subject may remain strictly off limits for Rodgers but the fact they could edge one step closer to going the entire season unbeaten is lost on no one.

‘We just focus on ourselves and take it game by game and this is just another chance to get three points,’ Armstrong added.

‘We’ll just concentrate on performing well. What we need to keep going is our level of performance and we’ve been doing that for some time now.

‘So we want to keep pushing out good performances, keep scoring and keep entertaining.

‘When the season is over and done then we can reflect on the statistics and what the highlights and the positives have been. But for the time being we will keep focusing on the present because that’s worked for us so far.’

Even a first defeat in 42 domestic games would surely only scuff what’s been a highly polished season to date.

For all the talk of Rangers somehow bridging the gap over the summer, the desire of all on the other side of the city to keep the foot pressed to the floor is palpable.

‘We’re still learning and that’s something to remember,’ Armstrong stressed. ‘We’ve come a long way this season and progressed and improved in many areas.

‘It was great getting into the Champions League and winning the League Cup, but we’re still learning.

‘We’re still looking to improve all the time. I think the gaffer is building something special here.

‘For his first season, it’s been great so far.

‘We’ll be looking next season to improve upon that, so it’s quite exciting for everyone involved.’