Scott Bain

SCOTT Bain, who has been preferred to Craig Gordon in goals for Celtic since the winter shutdown, has vowed to retain his place in the Parkhead first team and justify the faith Brendan Rodgers has shown him.

Bain admitted he has been surprised to start ahead of Gordon, who was outstanding for the Scottish champions against their city rivals Rangers at Ibrox in December, since play resumed earlier this month.

But the 27-year-old has kept clean sheets in the William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round match against Airdrie and the Ladbrokes Premiership games against St Mirren and Hamilton and helped his team record three wins.


Asked if he thought he could remain in the Celtic team, Bain said: “I back myself 100 per cent. I just need to keep working away and keep doing what I’ve been doing.

“I’ve just done what I’ve always done and taken it game by game. It’s been good to get three games joined together.

“I had a chat with the manager, but it was still a surprise when you look at the level of performances Craig puts in. We just had a brief chat and he said he wanted to give me a run in the team. So I was grateful.

“He’s shown trust in me since I’ve come here. Playing in the cup and winning the cup has just added layers of trust between me and the gaffer, as well as me and the fans.

“It’s the unfortunate life of a goalkeeper that only one can play at a time. I’ve had to bide my time on the bench and work hard away from playing. It’s good to get a run in the team now


Craig plays the game to the highest standard and has done so all his career, so it was always going to be difficult I’ve just worked hard on and off the pitch and it has culminated in this run of games.”

Bain, who joined Celtic on loan from Dundee last January, made his debut for the Parkhead club against Rangers at Ibrox last January after Gordon suffered an injury.

The goalkeeper helped the Glasgow club record a 3-2 victory that day and believes his display gave Rodgers confidence he could be relied on.


If I had played in a game after the split that meant nothing he wouldn’t have been able to see my mentality or if I was able to handle the big occasion,” he said.

“Being thrown into that game has shown that I can play in the biggest game and the hardest atmosphere in a Celtic jersey. It definitely helped me with the manager.”

Speaking ahead of the rearranged Ladbrokes Premiership game against St Johnstone at Parkhead tomorrow night, Bain admitted that he would like to be involved in the Europa League double header with Valencia next month.

“Since I have been here the atmosphere in every European game I have been on the bench for has been unbelievable,” he said.

“They are games I would obviously have loved to have played in. But I am just taking in week by week. I will do my best on Wednesday for the team again and we’ll see what happens.”

 

I may be in the minority but I prefer him over Gordon. I would take this time to see if he’s the future number one or if we need to get someone else

 

Trust me, you’re not.

 

For me Bain's number 1 now. His distribution is miles better than C.G's. We control the play when he plays as we are able to play out better from the back instead of hitting a 50/50 into the midfield. I have noticed in recent games that our oufield players have confidence in Bain as they are happy to knock it around with him and draw players on to us which creates more space going forward.

 

We all hate Gordon.

 

10 games this season

9 clean sheets

827 minutes since he conceded

 

Scott Baen

 

Should be number 1 until the end of the season.

 

Glad to see him still first choice, but let's be honest: we learned nothing about him tonight. We could have played my Silicone Georgios Samaras doll in goals and it wouldn't have made any difference to the game.

 

And more importantly

0 kung fu kicks..

 

He’s Brazilian

 

Doesn't panic with the ball at his feet, and don't think I have seen one ball hoofed out for a throw in.

 

Loves a ping

 

More clean sheets than a Daz advert.

 

Scottish de Gea!

 

Defenders look so much more comfortable with him in goal. They don't have to take that extra split second to think about whether they can pass to the keeper, they know he's not going to give it straight back to them when they have 3 players breathing down their necks. And he doesn't invite extra pressure on to the defence by giving the ball away. It's a no brainer for me, he has to stay no 1 for the rest of the season.