Scott Brown praises travelling Celtic supporters

Scott Brown has praised Celtic fans for travelling to Northern Ireland for the 2-0 Champions League qualifying win over Linfield.

The Scottish champions had refused their ticket allocation for the first leg of the second qualifying round match in Belfast over security fears.

However, there were around 300 Hoops supporters in the Kop stand at Windsor Park who saw first-half goals from Scott Sinclair and Tom Rogic on Friday.

Brown said: "It was delightful to see the fans over.

"They were advised to stay away but they still came and it was great.

"No matter where we go, the Celtic fans are fantastic, they follow us everywhere, home and away, so it was fantastic to see them.

"The performance wasn't that great but the main thing was we got the two goals."

The game was marred by Hoops striker Leigh Griffiths having bottles and coins thrown at him after his corner had led to Sinclair's opener in the 17th minute.

Griffiths was bizarrely booked by Spanish referee Alejandro Hernandez for time-wasting when he waited to take a corner after objects were thrown in his direction.

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The Northern Irish champions have launched an investigation but Brown looked to play down the incidents.

He said: "There was bottles and coins being thrown at him but we have to deal with that.

"We don't worry about that, we just concentrate on what's happening on the park.

"We have been to Tynecastle, Ibrox, it is like that all the time, it is part and parcel of football."

The second leg is at Celtic Park on Wednesday before Brendan Rodgers' side begin their Scottish Premiership campaign against Hearts on August 5.