BHOYS RULE
Brown credits Dons for challenge but insists Celtic are superior
CELTIC captain Scott Brown has admitted the emergence of Aberdeen as Premiership league-leaders is good for Scottish football — but insists Celtic remain the superior team.
The Dons extended their lead at the top of the table to four points with a 2-0 win over St Mirren yesterday, while Brown was in the wars as the champions lost a friendly to PSV Eindhoven in Gran Canaria.
The 29-year-old was forced off early in the 1-0 Maspalomas Cup defeat with a head wound but, despite attending hospital for stitches, he is expected to lead his side out away to Hamilton next weekend as they attempt to claw back the deficit.
Brown praised Aberdeen’s ability to grind out results over the past couple of months and admits the perception of the Scottish game is being enhanced by the challenge of the Pittodrie side.
Ultimately, however, he insists Celtic’s strength will show as they chase a fourth consecutive title.
‘Aberdeen are a good team,’ said Brown. ‘They have won eight games in a row and it’s great competition, but in that dressing-room we believe we are better than anyone.
‘It’s good for Scottish football to show it’s not just a one-team league with us strolling it every season.
‘Of course we want to do that but it’s not happening at the moment.
‘Yes, the league is tight just now but we have two games to catch up when we come back.’
Brown believes Derek McInnes’ team deserve respect for maintaining a rare level of consistency this season.
‘I would agree that Aberdeen deserve credit for what they have done,’ he said.
‘Every team raises their game against us but they have been doing it against every other team, too.
‘It looks as if they are playing good, attractive football but we’ll see if they can manage to do it for the full season.’
A goal from Dutch internationalist Memphis Depay was enough to give PSV victory yesterday.
Brown will be missing as Celtic complete their Maspalomas schedule against Sparta Prague on Tuesday but boss Ronny Deila said: ‘Scott got a cut but he wasn’t going to play on Tuesday anyway. I think he should be OK for next weekend.’