Scott Brown's English League One battle with former Celtic teammate ends in draw

By John McGinley

April 1, 2023

Celtic icon Scott Brown’s Fleetwood Town continued their unbeaten form in English League One on Saturday with a 2-2 draw against Exeter City.

Fleetwood now haven’t lost in four matches, winning two, as they consolidate a strong mid-table position in the division, well clear of a relegation battle some predicted they’d be engulfed in.

Jack Marriott scored a first-half double on either side of a Kevin McDonald equaliser to get ahead over Exeter. However, a desperately late Pierce Sweeney strike rescued a point for the away team. It means there are no bragging rights to be won between Brown and a former Celtic teammate.

Caldwell’s kind words for Brown as he takes to management well

Former Bhoys defender Gary Caldwell is the manager of the Grecians, having played with Brown in the early stages of the midfielder’s Celtic Park career, as well as at Hibernian in his much younger days.

Caldwell paid tribute to Brown prior to the matchup, saying [Daily Record]: “He was a fantastic player and is a good person. He knows how to win football matches and when you are at Celtic for as long as he was, then you are under no illusions how to win football matches and what it takes to be successful because second at that club is not good enough.

“He can live with that pressure and I am sure that he has found management different and a challenge. It’s been his first year, but he has done a fantastic job. Like I said, knowing the person and the player, then at the very least we will be in for a very competitive game. The technical area might need some subtitles and policing at some points! But apart from that, it should be okay.”

There’s no word of any fireworks on the touchline but even if there were I’m sure Brown and Caldwell will put any 90-minute grievances behind them to share kind words after the match.

Fleetwood sit in 13th position on 50 points after today’s results and are actually closer to the playoff spots than a relegation battle, at this point. Realistically it will be a safe mid-table finish for Brown and his team.

In conjunction with an impressive FA Cup run, Brown has had a productive debut season as a manager so far and hopefully, his team can see out the last seven games impressively.

In other news, Video: Young Celtic striker hits the goal trail out on loan.