FOOTBALL

ROBSON DEFENDS BOSS AND PREDICTS BETTER DAYS FOR CELTS

Robson sees better days ahead

Friday October 30,2009

By Gary Keown

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BARRY ROBSON has urged angry Celtic fans not to jump the gun in judging new boss Tony Mowbray.

Less than 18,000 Hoops supporters turned up for their side s 1-0 Co-op Insurance Cup loss to Hearts at Parkhead and booed their men off the field at time-up.

Mowbray has won just two home games out of nine since taking over the reins in the summer and, although they have sneaked ahead of crisis-hit Rangers in the SPL, Celts lie rock bottom of their Europa League group.

Following the Hearts defeat, Mowbray walked out of a press conference after just three minutes and seems to be showing the strain, but Robson insists he will come good given time.

The Scotland midfielder said: "I really believe that, the longer the season goes on, we are going to become a right good outfit and better than we ve been until now.

"We are only nine or 10 games into the league and the manager is still assessing everyone at the club as well as himself, probably.I don t think we are too far away from clicking.

"Tony Mowbray has just arrived and needs to work his magic.He needs to see what Europe is all about and all the rest of it.I am sure the gaffer and us players will go on to play in the Champions League and do well.

"It hasn t been what we d have liked in Europe this season, but that has happened in past years as well and I still think we can win our remaining three games in the Europa League and get through.

The manager is clever and has a certain philosophy."

Mowbray has created controversy by making comments about the quality of the squad and his desire to bring in new blood in the January transfer window.

Robson, however, insists the players haven t taken offence at their new gaffer and denies there has been friction behind the scenes despite a special team meeting being arranged last week.

Robson remarked: "Did he actually come out say that? I don t know."I think it has been proven that there is quality here and I don t think the manager means it like that.

"We speak to the manager every day and he likes the players and the quality here.I think he has maybe been misunderstood.