Brown wanted a penalty

Scott Brown: Felt Celtic should have had a penalty against Kilmarnock

Scott Brown has echoed Neil Lennon's thoughts that Celtic should have been awarded a late penalty in their Scottish League Cup final defeat to Kilmarnock.

Dieter van Tornhout's header put Killie ahead at Hampden Park, but Lennon was fuming with referee Willie Collum for booking Anthony Stokes rather than pointing to the penalty spot after he went down under a challenge from defender Michael Nelson.

Lennon labelled the decision against his troops as 'criminal' and Brown was surprised Collum missed it as he felt everyone else thought it was a spot-kick.

"We should have had a penalty," Brown told the Evening Times.

"Everyone knew what was happening and I think their coaching staff knew as well, but the referee somehow didn't see it.

"It was definitely not a dive and he (Stokes) has the scars to prove it.

"That would have taken it to extra-time had we scored it and we were in the driving seat at that time."

Difficult

Cameron Bell produced a man-of-the-match display in Kilmarnock's goal and Brown felt Celtic had shaded it over the course of the game.

"I think over the 90 minutes we were the better side, but their keeper played very well," he continued.

"We just didn't manage to get the ball in the back of the net. But I thought we played well and kept the ball well.

"We've been flying recently, but we always knew it would be difficult against Kilmarnock.

"You have to give credit to them because they played a good game as well.

"They managed to go up the park and score and keep a clean sheet at the other end."