We'll be stronger for Hearts defeat, says Celtic captain Scott Brown

GLASGOW: Celtic captain Scott Brown has backed his team-mates to rebound after their record-breaking 69-match unbeaten domestic run was halted by Hearts on Sunday.

The champions host bottom of the table Partick Thistle on Wednesday just three days after the 4-0 thrashing at Tynecastle, which ended a run that stretched back to May 2016.

Brown, who has led Celtic to six successive league titles, admits the manner of the loss will affect the team, but is adamant his team-mates will recover quickly from the defeat.

"Confidence is a little bit dented with the way we lost the goals and the way we performed, but we will bounce back," Brown said.

"It wasn't like us, we couldn't get the ball down and that was due to Hearts pressing us high up the park and putting us under pressure.

"The lucky thing about football is that we have another game just around the corner to bounce back, at Celtic Park in front of our own fans," added the 32-year-old midfielder.

It was the first time many of Brendan Rodgers' current Celtic crop had suffered a defeat at the hands of Scottish opposition.

Brown's team-mate Mikael Lustig says several of his colleagues will be better for the chastening experience after a reign of complete domination on the domestic front.

"I don't think they knew how to react. But it will make them and us stronger," said Lustig.

"We will learn from it and we will go again.

"We can't wait for the game against Partick Thistle now. When you lose a game all you want to do is get back onto the pitch.

"You need to get it out of your system."

Celtic could stretch their lead at the top of the table to five points with a win on Wednesday and Lustig says the players will have a point to prove.

As one record comes to an end, Celtic could reach yet another milestone against Thistle.

If they avoid defeat against their city rivals they will make it two calendar years without a domestic loss at Celtic Park.