CELTIC skipper Scott Brown hailed Craig Gordon’s performance as the team stretched their unbeaten run to eight games against Sevco Rangers.
The Scotland international keeper will celebrate his 35th birthday today following a couple of excellent saves in yesterday’s goalless draw at Parkhead.
It was Gordon’s fourth successive shut-out since the champions lost their invincible domestic record to Hearts at the 70th hurdle.
Brown, who put in a powerhouse performance, said: “Craigy is fantastic. There are a lot of people who doubt him, but it shows you what a class goalie he is yet again.
“He’s great with his feet and makes those great saves.
“That’s why we pay top dollar to have a top-quality keeper like that.”
Reflecting on the scoreless stalemate – only the second time Brendnan Rodgers has witnessed his side fail to get a goal against a Scottish team – Brown said: “In the first-half, their goalie made a couple of good saves, as well.
“These games are always tough. Since the manager has come in we have done really well in them, though.
“We’ve had six wins and two draws, so it has been not too bad for us and a great year overall. You have to take the positives out of that.
“This is a one-off. You never know what can happen in these games.
“In the past, we would maybe have lost a late goal, but it shows you our fitness and we have a goalkeeper who kept us in the game.
“We could have scored a few in the first-half which could have made it nice and cushy for us, but it wasn’t to be.
“We just focus on our performance and how we can get better, how we can improve after January.”
The winter break can’t come quickly enough for Brown after a 38-game slog to get to the winter break.
Before heading for a week off and then the trip to Dubai, he added: “That’s football. We enjoy playing games, but we also enjoy the little bit of rest.
“However, it has been a phenomenal 2017.”
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW! CHRISTMAS JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS
Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic authors, Stephen Sullivan and Stevie Murray for a special festive episode – Christmas Jumpers for Goal-Posts.
Stephen Sullivan is a former Celtic View reporter who wrote the much-lauded Sean Fallon biography, ‘Iron Man’. He is now the editor of FIFA.com.
Stevie Murray has now written two books on Celtic – ‘Ten Men Won The League’ and ‘Kenny of the Celtic’ – and he is a respected and authoritative voice on the club.
Treat yourself to a signed copy of Jim Craig – Right Back to 67 and you will receive a copy of That Season on Paradise signed by Bertie Auld, just order the Jim Craig book at CQNbookstore.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…
