Celtic skipper Scott Brown has dismissed Rl Hadji-Diouf as a sideshow.
Brown took the honours again on Wednesday night as he sidestepped the attention seeking Blackburn outcast to steer Celtic to victory and a place in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.
Diouf was involved in all of the major flashpoints as Rangers lost their discipline and treble hopes amid a sea of red and yellow cards.
“That’s three Old Firm games he’s played in now and he’s not really done anything to change the game,” Brown said dismissing the contribution of the loan Ranger.
“I know he’s played in derbies down south, but the Old Firm clashes are different to anything any player can experience.
“Maybe it’s frustration and that’s why he’s getting in people’s faces, but the game isn’t about him or me.
“It’s about which team wins and, fortunately, we are the ones coming out on top at present.”
The Celtic captain added:Â “Diouf was obviously trying to wind the boys up throughout the game and he even had a pop at me at half-time.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t even know what he said because our fans were chanting so loudly. But I doubt it was anything flattering!
“Obviously the match was full of controversial moments but that happens in games.
“I heard the police have urged for the games to be played behind closed doors but I think the Old Firm games need to be open to everyone.
“It’s a worldwide fixture and the fans add to the electricity that surrounds these games.
“You can always expect it to be a fiery game. It’s whether you can handle the situation or not and, at present, we’ve shown we can.”
Mark Wilson’s night to remember
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