CELTIC LATEST
CRAIG SWAN
SCOTT BAIN says Scott Brown is the glue which has bonded Celtic through their turbulent week.
The Parkhead keeper and his team-mates have produced a magnificent response to Brendan Rodgers’ departure to give Neil Lennon two crucial wins to start his second spell in the hotseat.
Lennon faced two huge away matches against Hearts and Hibs in the treble treble bid having been plunged into the role and the Hoops have delivered in stunning style with back-to-back wins.
Bain reckons Celtic’s professionalism and mentality as well as a familiarity with their new boss amongst some of the group has helped to ensure the transition has gone without disruption.
But the Celtic stopper also revealed the leadership and continuity offered by his skipper has been key.
While six managerial changes have occurred during c.swan@dailyrecord.co.uk his time at Parkhead, Brown has remained the constant throughout the past 11 years.
The leading figure has stepped up to the plate with two massive performances on the park at Tynecastle and Easter Road and provided the stability off it to keep the team moving in the right direction.
Brown capped a man-of-the-match show in the 2-0 weekend win over Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final with a brilliant goal as the holders moved into the semis.
Lennon described the captain and colleague James Forrest club “greats” and Bain said: “They are important no matter the circumstances outside the dressing room because in there they are fantastic boys.
“The club would be a different place without Broony. He does so much for the boys and keeps us together. He drives us through in training and demands the highest standards, so he is massive for the club regardless of what has been going on this week outside the dressing room.
“You can see from the two results just how professional the boys are. We have just got on with our work.
“Player-wise nothing has really changed for us. We just wanted to get the two wins and we’ve managed to do that.
“We have won two out of two, so it’s been okay. 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.
“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, just how determined we are to maintain the success.
“If you look at our season and the number of games we play and the number of important matches we play, you see that these lads are the strongest mentally. But they show that every week.
“It was tough (Rodgers leaving) and there has been a little bit of a distraction but we have shown our quality in these two games.
“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, the quality we have to come through both matches.”
For Bain, Lennon’s appointment has been especially promising. Having