RONNY Deila last night defended Scott Brown against accusations of playacting after the captain was controversially booked by Craig Thomson for simulation against Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday.
There was clear contact between the Celtic and Scotland captain and Caley Thistle full back David Raven in the box as the Parkhead side chased a winner in the 67th minute yesterday, but the match official deemed Brown's actions worthy of a yellow card. "I haven't seen it again but Scott Brown is the last man in the world anyone can accuse of diving," said Deila. "He is a tough guy."
The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, was a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup semi-final between the two teams on Sunday, but Inverness will go into their first visit to Hampden for 11 years without their first-choice goalkeeper after Dean Brill was stretchered off with a dislocated left knee during yesterday's match. The misery for the 29-year-old was merely compounded by the fact he had lasted just 15 minutes of his first match back after sustaining a similar injury against Hamilton in January. He crumpled to the turf in agony after a collision with Gary Mackay-Steven, to be replaced by Ryan Esson.
"He's dislocated his knee and that's the real dampener for us," said Inverness boss John Hughes. "His knee has given away - it's the same knee unfortunately, and that's a real downer for him. The doc has put it back in but that'll be him until the end of the season and that's really unfortunate. I worked with Graham Barrett at Falkirk and his never got realigned properly so we have to make sure he's in good hands. We've got a right good deputy in Ryan Esson though who has played the last eight games and he won't be fazed."
The result means Celtic have taken just one point in Inverness all season, but Hughes feels the match will have little bearing on next week. "I don't think that'll be the team next week," said Hughes. "They'll know they have to be at their best. If they're off it and we're at it, there could be an upset. All the pressure's on them."
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