Celtic icons Scott Brown and Tom Rogic were left cursing their former Celtic team-mates as both were on the receiving end of defeats inflicted by former Paradise stars yesterday.
Scott Brown, now Fleetwood manager, saw his side lose to a 90th minute winner from Celtic’s youngest-ever goalscorer Jack Aitchison, now of Barnsley.
Aitchison came off the bench to score on his Hoops debut in 2016 in a 7-0 trophy win over Motherwell, but went on to leave the club in 2020 after making few other first-team appearances
Speaking on Fleetwood’s website after the game, Brown said: “Losing by a last-minute goal is always hard. We managed the second half very well. We tried to play on the counter with some pace as well. We put Joe [Garner] on to be a bit more direct than what we’re used to. A draw would have been a fair result.
“As an overall performance from the lads, they worked extremely hard, and they always try to listen at half-time. I thought their understanding of the shape was very good.”
Brown’s Fleetwood sit 15th in League One, having won and lost two and drawn six of their ten games so far this season.
In the English Championship, Tom Rogic’s West Brom debut was spoiled by his former midfield partner Olivier Ntcham who scored a second-half equaliser for Swansea as they went on to beat the Baggies 3-2 at the Hawthornes.
The Aussie was making his first competitive appearance since leaving Paradise in May, and was booked before being replaced in the second half against the Swans.
Reportedly under-pressure West Brom manager Steve Bruce was asked about his new signing’s debut after the game, in which his side also missed a penalty, as they continue to look for their first win since August 20th.
As reported by The Scottish Sun, he said: “The only way we’re going to get him up to speed is playing in games.
“We knew it was a big call but he’s played in training for the best part of two or three weeks. In hindsight, maybe to come on as a sub might have been the way, but we thought can we get a good hour out of him that will stand him in good stead.
“We have to get him up to speed quickly if we can. There will not be a problem with Tom, you don’t play at the level he’s played at for 10 years, he’s a very, very good player.”
West Brom sit 21st in the Championship having only won one of their 11 league matches so far this season.
With the World Cup just six weeks away, Rogic will hope he can put some form together before the World Cup, where he would almost certainly join Celtic’s Aaron Mooy in Graham Arnold’s Australia squad for Qatar.
In other news: Postecoglou challenges Celtic to re-find ruthless streak after “difficult” Motherwell victory
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