Brown blames Diouf for Old Firm clash

Celtic captain Scott Brown has aimed another verbal blow at Rangers midfielder El-Hadji Diouf following his side's stormy Scottish Cup win at Parkhead.

Brown, who has clashed with the former Liverpool player in the three Old Firm games since Diouf arrived on loan from Blackburn, and in the media afterwards, claimed his rival had been trying to unnerve the Celtic players during the fifth-round replay.

Diouf argued with Celtic manager Neil Lennon during the first half and assistant manager Johan Mjallby in the tunnel at half-time before being shown a second yellow card for dissent after the final whistle.

Brown, in a statement on the sports social network website, www.talentnation.com, said: "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!

"That's three Old Firm games he's played in now and he's not really done anything to change the game.

"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."

Rangers pair Madjid Bougherra and Steven Whittaker were also sent off before Lennon and Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist were involved in an angry exchange after the final whistle.

Brown said: "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."

Celtic have won three and drawn one of the four Old Firm games in 2011 and Brown expects the rest to be similarly eventful.

"We've got two more games against Rangers," he wrote. "The League Cup final and what could be the title decider.

"So 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."

Diouf had previously claimed he was taunted by Lennon and Celtic captain Scott Brown during the initial Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain believes the explosive events of last night`s Old Firm derby were sparked by the treatment of some of their players in previous meetings with Celtic.

In a statement released by Rangers, Bain said: "There was indeed increased tension at last night's match between the clubs, mainly as a result of incidents at previous matches where two of our players were the subject of extreme verbal abuse in the tunnel and around the dug-out area at Ibrox.

"Our management team are highly regarded across the football world for their approach to the game.

"Our assistant manager, who is acutely aware of representing Rangers in the best possible way, became embroiled in a situation last night where he acted in the defence of our players.

"He met Neil Lennon again after the match and is now satisfied the Celtic manager is fully aware of his views."