Brown: 'Maybe last season a few of them didn't realise what it meant'

Senior Sports Writer

Tuesday 2 October 2012

DESPITE what one Russian journalist tried to infer, Scott Brown will not prepare for tonight's Champions League match against Spartak by donning his kilt and watching Braveheart.

Scott Brown will play in Moscow despite his ongoing hip problem

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Ronnie Cully

The Celtic captain has no need to draw inspiration from an Australian playing the part of an iconic Scot.

Brown, pictured, has his own United Nations cast surrounding him in the dressing room and, on close inspection, can sense they are all up for a battle. "All the lads know what it means to play for Celtic now," he said. "Maybe last season a few of them came in and didn't realise quite what it all meant. Now we're in the Champions League, everyone is watching these games. That's scary for some people. But, looking at these guys, they've loved every minute of it."

Brown is quick to tackle any suggestion the opening draw at home to Benfica betrayed an over-cautious approach, though it is a viewpoint given credibility by the fact Celtic were the only team of the 32 in the competition who did not manage to get a shot on target on in their opening fixture."I've played in this competition before and the first game is always hard," the midfielder insisted. "For us to get a point with a reasonably young and inexperienced team was great. We just need to look now to make more chances."Tonight's game will be a different type of test in front of a partisan Russian crowd. However, Brown considers Moscow a happy hunting ground, having helped the Parkhead club defeat Dinamo in this city three years ago, then eke out a draw against Spartak on the Luzhniki Stadium's plastic pitch in 2007. When asked how the surface would effect his on-going hip joint irritation, he replied: "I'll find out when I wake up on Wednesday morning."By then, the 27-year-old hopes to have put three vital points on the board, although he accepts achieving the club's first group stage win on the road is going to require everyone to play at their peak and ensure Spartak's main dangerman, former team-mate Aiden McGeady, is kept in check.Gordon Strachan did not select McGeady when Celtic last played against Spartak here, and, when he considers the players Neil Lennon has at his disposal this evening compared to the team which lined up that night, Brown's confidence rises. "We had a lot more experience then, but we're fitter, we're stronger and we're more willing to go and attack teams now," he said. "I've matured as a player and person. I am enjoying being one of the older heads, and I'm more chilled out these days."For all his boyish bravado, Brown's experience will be important tonight. He will lead by example, and said: "You've got to respect every team, but you've also got to go into the game believing that you can win. We need to focus on the positives, rather than ponder on the negatives all the time."

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Brown: 'Maybe last season a few of them didn't realise what it meant'

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