Chris Sutton’s swipe at England’s view of Celtic and Scottish football after Matt O’Riley’s Man City heroics

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Every Celtic fan knows that many people in England and within their media do not rate Scottish football and the Parkhead club’s achievements in it.

Whenever Celtic are playing in Europe or win a treble the inevitable, ‘My nan could score’ comments come hurtling in on social media when, in truth, it’s really not that easy to win as many trophies Celtic have over the years.

Some of the best players England has produced have come up to Scotland and really struggled to make an impact after having preconceived ideas that football up north is easy.

And that view seems to have irked Celtic hero, Chris Sutton this week after Matt O’Riley’s Brighton heroics put Man City to the sword at the weekend.

Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live [7:54pm], “Really pleased for Matt O’Riley coming down to the farmer’s league and getting off the mark early.

“Joking aside, he had that horrendous (injury) in his first game in the League Cup, he got topped, that was a terrible challenge. Because he played so well last season at Celtic, you are thinking, well, is that going to really set him back, so I am pleased that he came on and he looked pretty sharp and took his goal well.

“He is a really outstanding footballer, he has got wonderful awareness, he has an eye for a pass, and he really improved in his time at Celtic.

“A really smart piece of business. And Celtic, albeit they have had a good start to the season, miss him.”

Celtic hero Matt O’Riley is making the Premier League look easy at Brighton

Now, Sutton said he was kidding but earlier in the day on It’s All Kicking Off, the Celtic hero shared an identical view.

Switching the ‘Farmers League’ comment to refer to the EPL when he said [listen at 42m below], “My moment of the weekend was Matt O’Riley scoring.

“Coming down south from Celtic to Brighton to the Farmers League and making it look like a doddle.”

Sutton knows exactly what it’s like and how hard it is to make it at a club like Celtic. After six years at the club, the former Blackburn and Chelsea striker constantly refers to the difficulty of playing for a club with such demands and expectancy.

So it’s little wonder Sutton has taken an opportunity this week to defend Celtic and Scottish football off the back of the O’Riley publicity.