Brown 'devastated' by lacklustre Celtic display

Skipper Scott Brown was "devastated" after a lacklustre display by Celtic saw their lead at the top of the Premiership cut to four points following a goalless draw with Dundee at Parkhead.

Published 2nd Mar 2016

Skipper Scott Brown was "devastated" after a lacklustre display by Celtic saw their lead at the top of the Premiership cut to four points following a goalless draw with Dundee at Parkhead.

It was a lifeless performance by the Hoops and had defender Kostadin Gadzhalov not missed a sitter with his head late in the game, the Taysiders would have left with all three points as the Celtic fans booed their side off at the end.

With Aberdeen beating Dundee United 1-0 at Tannadice the title race is back on.

Brown said: "We didn't play as well as we could have and I think we have let everyone down, it wasn't good enough. We didn't do ourselves justice.

"Points mean so much to us and we've got one point and it's not good enough for this team.

"We should be making this place a fortress like it used to be but it hasn't been in recent months.

"That's a few games we have let ourselves down in now. It has been long balls and we've not been creating too many chances and it's not good enough overall.

"I am frustrated and they are frustrated and I think everyone at the club is frustrated that we are not doing as well as we possibly can."

With one eye on the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final tie with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, Dens Park boss Paul Hartley started with skipper Gary Harkins, top scorer Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart on the bench, although all three came on later in the game to try to nick the three points.

Hartley said: "It was a great team performance. We changed the shape of the team and the personnel and the game plan worked.

"We only had one day to work on a back three but we had a real go at Celtic.

"We didn't let them play from the back and played a high pressing game against them.

"In the second half I felt we were the better team and thought we could have nicked it and I felt in the last period of the game we looked the more threatening team.

"Overall I am really pleased with the players. We changed the team and people were a little bit surprised but I've got real trust in my players.

"I was always encouraged by this group of players because of what they've been like since the turn of the year. We've had one defeat against Aberdeen, which was a narrow 1-0, so with this group of players anything is possible.

"I've got a great bunch to work with and they just keep going."

When an "angry" Celtic boss Ronny Deila was asked if his side could lose the league if they play like that in the last 10 games of the season, he said: "Yes, that's for sure.

"We need to be at a totally different level but we know also how good we can be when we at our best.

"It is about getting the good feeling back again.

"It is about us. We are in front, we need to perform and get our points and if we do that we will win the league.

"I am angry, of course I am angry. There are a lot of angry and disappointed people in the dressing room.

"I am very disappointed, the whole team is disappointed and the performance wasn't good enough but at the same time we are in this together and we have to turn it around together.

"We need to get our performances better, there have been some games in a row that we haven't shown at our best and tonight it seemed we were all one metre behind.

"I need to get confidence and energy into the team."

Deila was aware of the fans' disgruntlement, saying: "I understand that the fans are irritated, like we are, and the players understand that.

"But I know that the Celtic fans stay behind their team and they have done it all the time and they will do it again now.

"It is my responsibility and we have to solve it together but when the team is not performing then it goes straight on me.

"We need to change it to get points to win the league."