No worries over McDonald being in charge next time out

Tony Mowbray is not worried about his captain, Scott Brown, coming back from suspension to play in a game handled by the man who sent him off at Ibrox last month. Referee Dougie McDonald caused a storm when he red-carded the midfielder after he tangled with Light Blues midfielder Kyle Lafferty. The club had criticised officials in the lead-up to the game and afterwards, through the official website, it was claimed that any "fair-minded person" would not have agreed with the decision. Brown will miss out on tonight's game against St Mirren but will be back for the visit of Killie on Saturday, where McDonald will be the man with the whistle. However, the Hoops boss was relaxed about the situation, saying: "I didn't know who Dougie McDonald was until someone explained to me that he was the referee at Ibrox. Do I have a problem with it? No. I think it was pretty obvious to everyone that it wasn't a sending-off but I don't think anyone questioned the ref's integrity. In his opinion, it was a sending-off, but to most of the rest of the world, it probably wasn't. So no-one is questioning him. It is a difference of opinion, that's all. I'm sure he is a very good official and we have no problems with him."

Mowbray was more concerned about tonight's trip to Paisley where the Hoops will be hoping to reduce Rangers' lead at the top of the SPL to seven points. Given that most of Celtic's troubles this season has stemmed from defensive problems, Mowbray was strangely reluctant to focus on the tightening up of his defence in recent games. It is the first time in two years that Celtic have kept three clean sheets in succession but Mowbray said: "Football is about winning games. It's not all about keeping clean sheets. It's not a bad statistic but I am not giving it too much consideration. We have young defenders and they are doing very well but sometimes if you talk about how good it has been it can become a story in the next game if you lose a couple of goals. We try and keep clean sheets in every game and we try and score goals in every games, that's how you win games."
 

Mowbray hinted that Lukasz Zaluska will again keep his place in goal for the trip to Paisley. Regular Artur Boruc returned from compassionate leave last week but was left on the bench in the win over St Johnstone at the weekend. The former Celtic defender said: "Lukasz has had a couple of clean sheets which is good for his confidence and we'll see what happens as the season goes on. They have always vied on equal terms. The one who is in goal has to play himself out of it, although it wasn't down to Artur's performances why he was in the team, but because he had to return home to Poland on compassionate grounds. But Lukasz did well and stayed in and we'll see how it goes. I'll take it on a game by game basis. I speak to them both every day and they understand the situation."

Mowbray refused to take much succour from the fact that St Mirren had lost their first major cup final in 23 years at the weekend to nine-man Rangers. He said: "I think St Mirren will be very professional. I have been a manager on the other side when the Old Firm are coming to your ground and it is a motivating factor in itself because it is a big game and a big day. Whenever you play any of the SPL teams away from home it is always a tough game and it will be the same tomorrow night. They will be giving it their best shot because it is their chance to make a few headlines. Hopefully, when our chances come along we can take them and win the game."