Scott Brown playing a leading role as Celtic set out to become 'bigger and braver'

Although Tony Mowbray selected the former Hibernian midfielder as his captain, there is every indication that Brown will retain the armband in the event of Lennon being appointed permanent manager.

Brown was handed a vote of confidence by Lennon shortly after Mowbray's departure in March. The midfielder was taken to one side and informed that he would still be the leader on the park. "He (Lennon] said he was still going to make me captain and see how well we could go until the end of the season," revealed Brown yesterday. "The only game that's been disappointing was Ross County."

Except for that aberration in the Scottish Cup against the First Division side, Lennon's time in charge has seen the team develop a remorseless consistency that was missing under Mowbray. Brown credited this to Lennon on the eve of tonight's Old Firm derby, when Celtic will seek to make it seven league wins out of seven under Lennon. Like Brown, whose performances have improved with every recent outing as he finds both form and fitness following an ankle operation, Celtic are also beginning to come into their own again.

It is, however, at the wrong time, unless your name is Neil Lennon. According to Brown, Celtic's improvement can be traced to his installation as interim manager. Their recent determination to scratch out victories is evidence of Lennon's contribution, and offers a powerful case for his retention as manager. "He's brought the fight back and the hunger to play for the jersey, to be good on the ball and to make us play attractive football," pointed out the skipper. "But we can also play nasty and dirty football as well."

Brown has been the embodiment of this awkwardness. Against Dundee United two weekends ago, he riled not just opposite man Prince Buaben, but also the Tannadice club's manager, Peter Houston. He slammed Brown for being disrespectful. The midfielder was spotted slapping his own backside during the game, a gesture that was apparently meant to covey the message that he had Buaben in his hip pocket. Brown claimed not to have seen these comments, but pleaded guilty to a charge of belligerence.

"From now onwards I think we're going to have to be bigger men and braver, get in people's faces to try to put them off their game," he said. "That's football. If you can't deal with the grief don't play football. We fought well that day (against Dundee United]. We battled for each other and I think that was the team spirit coming out in us again."

The midfielder accepted that a victory against Rangers tonight would be another persuasive marker denoting Lennon's suitability for the role of full-time manager. But he also stressed that the players are desperate to earn the win for themselves. It has been a harrowing season for those in the hoops, who have been beaten in two of their three Old Firm meetings this season. The other clash finished in a dispiriting draw for Celtic, who lost the lead in the closing minutes.

"We've been unlucky but that's football and sometimes it kicks you right in the teeth," reflected Brown. "Things don't go your way and we have to put that right. We've been scoring three or four goals a game recently and we've also been defending really well and keeping clean sheets so we're looking a harder team to beat.

"The lads are going into the game looking forward to it. It's the biggest game of our season, really."