SCOTT BAIN reckons Steven Gerrard and his players require a reality check in the aftermath of last week’s Ibrox encounter.
The Celtic keeper was beaten twice during a disappointing Hoops display in Govan a week after the champions had already made certain of their EIGHTH successive title.
Neil Lennon’s made no mistake when they took care of business at Pittodrie with goals from Mikael Lustig, Jozo Simunovic and Odsonne Edouard beating a spirited Aberdeen outfit 3-0 to kick off the celebrations among the visiting players and supporters.
Bain, who has made the No.1 position his own since taking the gloves from Craig Gordon at the turn of the year, will be in place tomorrow when the championship trophy is handed over after the last Premiership game of another successful campaign.
SILVERWARE SMILE…Scott Bain holds aloft the League Cup after the 1-0 win over Aberdeen in December.
And then it is on to Hampden a week today where the Parkhead team have the opportunity to make history by beating the Tynecastle outfit in the Scottish Cup Final to lift their ninth consecutive piece of domestic silverware and complete the unprecedented treble treble.
So, the Scotland international shotstopper is not too impressed by the noises coming out of Govan over the past few days.
Bain, speaking to the Daily Record about the enthusiasm from across Glasgow, said: “It speaks volumes for our team that that’s a team that used to celebrate winning trophies and now are celebrating winning matches against us.
“The city can be blue for the day. But perspective comes into play the next day and we are going for another Cup.
“You’ve got a team celebrating winning a game against you like they’d won the league.
“It’s perspectives. We’d already won the league and we’re going into the Scottish Cup Final.“We weren’t great on the day and they deserved to win. They also have the right to celebrate with their fans.
“It needs to be put into perspective for our fans, as well. You can’t win every game. It’s impossible and there are going to be days when you don’t perform to the standards you have been used to.
“The boys have performed at the highest standard the league has seen for a while.
“Perspectives can be marred. You’re not going to win every game. You just have to be respectful when you do lose and you hold your hands up and say we were not good enough.
“We went over and thanked our fans for their support, but you’ve got to let people enjoy their wins and enjoy their celebrations as long as it’s not disrespectful and I don’t think it was.
“I think everything was good on the day and it was their last home game of the season, as well. They’ve got a right to go and enjoy the day with their fans.
“But I just think that perspective from our end can be lost because it’s such a big game.”
Bain insisted he and his team-mates are still focused firmly on their quest to make history over the next seven vital days.
ON THE BALL…Scott Bain in control.
He added: “The mentality of the boys in the dressing room is second to none.
“People could have folded when a big figure like that [Brendan Rodgers] left, but it speaks volumes for the team that the new gaffer has come in and we’ve not really missed a beat.
“The new manager has done great since he’s come in and you have to give credit to the boys in here, as well.
“They keep going and going. There’s a lot of talk and noise from the outside, but we’ve just got on with it and done our jobs the best we can.
“One of the first things that struck me when I came here was the mentality of the group. The intensity of the training really blew me away. I was like: ‘Ooof, I need to get up to scratch really quickly’.
“The past management have to take credit. They’ve had a huge impact on the players’ mentality and the fans’ mentality.
“It speaks volumes that the boys can put anything aside no matter what’s going on in their own lives or on the outside. They can go out on the pitch and put in the performances that they do.”
