Football: 'Magnificent' Brown

AS FAR as Pat Crerand is concerned Craig Brown "has been absolutely magnificent" and will further enhance his reputation as a manager when Scotland move into the second stage of the World Cup finals.

Crerand, the 59-year-old former Scotland, Celtic and Manchester United midfielder, believes Brown's side will beat Morocco today and qualify for the last 16.

"Craig and the team have been magnificent in France," he said. "It won't be easy against Morocco, but maybe that 3-0 defeat by Brazil has damaged their confidence.

"The great thing for me is that Scotland qualified in the first place. We are such a small nation. It's a feat in itself and I think Brown has been absolutely magnificent. Frankly few people outside Scotland have even heard of him, but his credentials have been established in this World Cup.

"What has impressed me about Scotland is that they have no big stars. It all works together into a fine squad with a coach who knows what he's doing."

Crerand has been impressed with the contribution of John Collins and Paul Lambert. "It's because they've been playing in Europe for Monaco and Dortmund," he said. "That experience has been vital - you can see a standard of play from them which underlines that they have been playing at a very high level."

Kevin Gallacher, the pacy Blackburn Rovers striker, and Rangers' hard- working Gordon Durie have also caught Crerand's eye.

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