As Rangers dropped two points against Aberdeen, the fact ex-Celtic skipper Scott Brown was central to the result will come as no surprise.
Even at 36-years-old and out of form, Brown was always going to show up on his return to Ibrox Stadium.
Scoring a pivotal second goal for the Dons as Rangers were shellshocked in the opening 15 or so minutes, the now-Aberdeen captain slid in front of Rangers fans to celebrate.
Whilst it certainly got under the skin of some, Brown’s status as an Aberdeen player/coach and the club’s woeful record under his leadership should have Gers fans asking why they’re rising to the bait.
Foredome extended and mid-drift shunted out, Brown flapped his forearms like a genuine neanderthal and stomped around Ibrox like a man-child.
It was laughable and gives an insight into the damage that the Ibrox club have done to the guy’s psyche.
Rangers fans must stop rising to Scott Brown bait
Why anyone would get wound up by this caveman-like posturing – especially considering we witnessed his dream of 10IAR collapse last season – is beyond me.
As jeers and whistles rang out in the crowd, it has me asking; does this infantile wind-up merchant seriously get to some of the Rangers support?
As the final whistle sounded, Brown headed to the Aberdeen fans in the corner, celebrating as if he’d just won 10IAR with Celtic. I was in stitches.
Not only was this not about Aberdeen fans – for Brown it was clearly more about the Rangers support – but the whole thing was symbolic of the tinpot nature of the midfielder.
What a fall from grace for this supposed Celtic legend to be reduced to celebrating a draw in a soaking wet Ibrox with a slack-jawed smile, desperate to harangue any fan he could into the wind-up.
On the pitch, there’s kudos to be given to Brown. The midfielder stood up at centre-back and nullified Alfredo Morelos. He had an impressive game and the goal was part of that.
But all the play-acting, the trying to get Morelos sent off, the rolling around holding his face – it is not gamesmanship, it’s embarrassing. The guy is 36.
Brown’s an average player who spent most of his career playing dross whilst Rangers recovered from financial ruin – it’s about time some started treating him as such.
Meanwhile, tiresome talk of a pro-Rangers refereeing conspiracy distracts from a major issue in Scottish football.
