Scott Brown backs Celtic to reset after Hearts end record run
Monday 18 December 2017 17:47, UK
Scott Brown insists fatigue was not to blame for Celtic's record unbeaten run coming to an end on Sunday and has backed his side to quickly get back to winning ways.
Celtic's British record 69-match domestic unbeaten record was brought to a stunning halt at Tynecastle as Hearts won 4-0, and manager Brendan Rodgers urged his players to forget about the game and "hit the reset button".
The reigning Scottish champions are two points clear at the top of the Premiership and can extend their lead to five points when they host Partick Thistle on Wednesday.
Celtic play four games in 10 days before the month ends, including at home against second-placed Aberdeen and an Old Firm derby against Rangers at Celtic Park on December 30, live on Sky Sports Football.
Despite the gruelling fixture list, Celtic captain Brown insists tiredness will not be an issue and welcomed the busy Christmas schedule.
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"The lucky thing about football is that we have got another game just round the corner to bounce back at Celtic Park in front of our own fans," he said.
"We have got a lot of games coming up before the winter break so we need to make sure we are focused, we are recharged and that we are ready to go for them.
"We've had the same season as last year and we came through that. It is not about fatigue for us, it was just about one game that was slightly disappointing."
Brown also paid tribute to his manager, saying that Rodgers has been a "breath of fresh air" at the Glasgow club since joining at the start of the 2016/17 season.
"It's been fantastic, every single game since the manager has come in," he said. "He has been a breath of fresh air to probably every Celtic fan and every player that has come in.
"It's been a great run. It was disappointing but Hearts played really well on the day and they deserved the victory.
"It's not like us. We couldn't get the ball down but that is due to Hearts pressing high up the park, putting us under pressure and the pitch maybe not being as good as it should be."
