SCOTT BROWN believes everyone in the Celtic dressing room is a big enough Bhoy to take his stinging criticism after their defeat by Hamilton.

To be perfectly frank, however, the Hoops skipper doesn't care.

He believes everything he said about players hiding and their effort not being good enough was true.

And, sometimes, the truth hurts.

He did not absolve himself from the criticism, and has responded with two magnificent performances for Scotland.

Today, in Dingwall, Brown will see if the rest of Ronny Deila's side can react in similarly positive fashion.

If they don't, they can expect more of the same barbs from the man who speaks and plays from the heart.

"I think everyone has to be critical after you have been beaten," said Brown, as he reflected on their failure to close the gap on league leaders Hamilton two weeks ago.

"You can't just take it and walk away smiling after a defeat, especially at a club such as Celtic.

"That is the first time we had been beaten at Celtic Park (in the league) in two-and-a-half years, and we wanted to continue that run.

"It was devastating for me, and everyone else, to lose, particularly the way we did.

"We did not create enough chances and did not play well enough."

In fact, Deila pointed out Celtic created a dozen excellent chances against Accies, but failed to take a single one.

The manager does, however, support his captain's right to speak out in the way he did.

Brown has heard all about the statistics regarding shots on target, possession, corners won, which confirm Celtic should not have lost that match.

But he added in typically blunt style: "None of that matters. The main thing is getting the ball in the back of the net.

"Look at us against Barcelona. They probably had 90% of the ball, but we scored two goals.

"It shows it's not all about what you do in two-thirds of the park. It's what you do in the box and how you create the chances.

"Hamilton created the chance and scored - and we couldn't do that."

Clearly, the sore is still raw. But, with so many foreign players arriving in the past year, can Brown be confident everyone appreciates just how unacceptable losing is to Celtic?

"I think everyone is understanding that now," he said. "Now we've got to go and create those chances and score the goals to show we are disappointed.

"Lots of people in the dressing room are disappointed when we draw, never mind lose, and we have to carry that anger into games and show we can put it right.

"We have to play well and play good, attractive football as well."

There is certainly no room for sulking. And, having finally got back together after their break for international matches, Brown is in no mood to say sorry for his remarks.

"We're all big enough boys to shout at each other and give each other a little bit on the park," is his philosophy.

"You have to take it on the chin. Everyone is doing it for a good reason. We all want to win and that's the main thing.

"We need to show courage after losing to Hamilton and having two weeks away then having to go to Dingwall.

"It's an early kick-off, but we have got to go up there and win."

Brown does not consider this is only necessary after a defeat like the one just suffered.

"We are Celtic," he growled. "We have got to prove it week in, week out against everybody.

"We know everyone raises their game when they play us, but we need to up our game every week as well.

"We can play better, create more chances and run further, but it is about getting the result.

"There will be times when you are going to Inverness, the wind's blowing and the snow is flying. It cannot all be pretty football.

"It has to be about men being on the park."

Ready to lead by example will be Brown, whose default position in life appears to carry a snarl.

"I'm just an angry wee man, aren't I?" he said with a self-deprecating grin.

"We don't want to see too much anger. What we want to see are good, positive results, and the lads going about their business with a smile on their face.

"However, there's a time and a place to be angry. And, after a defeat - especially at home -you've got to show that."

Brown also wants to put a smile on the faces of the Hoops fans who make the long trip north today, and is confident that his team-mates will do what is required.

"I think we're going to respond. We're going to have to press and put them under pressure instead of letting teams press us and put us under pressure."

Celtic will be perceived as vulnerable by a Staggies side rejuvenated by the arrival of Jim McIntrye as manager, so they will have to win the battle before they can show their superior qualities.

But Brown reckons they have that fight in their bellies - no-one more so than Stefan Johansen, booked in midweek while playing for Norway after slide-tackling the manager of Bulgaria.

"Stefan is great to play with," said the man who would have been proud of earning such notoriety himself.

"He works hard and goes into tackles, sometimes those he's not going to win.

"Stefan knows he's got to take one for the team sometimes.

"He's brave on the ball," something which will be demanded of every Celt this afternoon and for the remainder of the season.