Scott Brown Explains How Celtic Can Hurt Rangers

Scott Brown believes Celtic are the stronger side heading into their double-header with Rangers and has explained how Martin O’Neill’s team can turn Ibrox nerves against the hosts on Sunday.

Celtic travel across Glasgow for the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final before the sides meet again at Celtic Park in the Premiership seven days later.

O’Neill’s side go into the first meeting after six league wins from six, while Brown has been impressed by the depth Celtic showed in Wednesday night’s 1-0 victory over St Johnstone.

He said: (The Celtic Way YouTube), “I do see Celtic being the stronger team over the two games.

“I think Celtic’s squad showed at the weekend against St Johnstone that they can chop and change.

“They can rely on other people to come in and play.”

Brown believes the opening stages at Ibrox will be crucial, particularly with no Celtic supporters inside the stadium.

The former Hoops captain knows exactly what it is like to play there and feels Celtic can use the pressure from the home support to their advantage.

He said: “Obviously, going into it as a Celtic player, you want to silence that crowd early doors.

“You want to make sure that you keep the ball, you dictate.

“If Celtic get an early goal, it becomes a nervous Ibrox.”

Brown doubled down on that point when discussing the first 20 minutes.

“If they can quieten the crowd, if they can relax in the game and dictate play, it does become a nervous place because that’s what you want,” he said.

“You want that as a player.

“I’ve done that.

“For me, as a Celtic player, going to those situations, you always want to try and quieten that crowd as quickly as possible.”

Brown also believes Celtic have enough quality to control parts of the game despite having no travelling support inside Ibrox.

He said: “Celtic will go there, I believe, that can dictate play, but also win the game too.”

The former captain also sees the midfield battle as one of the key areas on Sunday, with Rangers still settling under Derek McInnes.

Brown said: “I think in the middle of the park.

“I think Celtic with Nygren, Baur and Cal.

“It would be good to see how Rangers set up, whether it’s Neil, whether it’s Raskin, if they play 4-4-2, if they play 4-3-3, if they try and match up Celtic as well.

“I think Derek’s jumped in between both recently, so I think it will be won and lost in there.”

Brown clearly fancies Celtic over the two games.

If O’Neill’s side start well at Ibrox and get the home crowd edgy, that could make Sunday even more uncomfortable for Rangers.