ALBION Rovers manager Darren Young has insisted that his team can hold their heads high after yesterday’s 3-0 defeat to Celtic.

The League One side tried to contain Celtic for much of the game and had the runaway Premiership leaders holding just a one-goal advantage until the latter stages.

However, two late goals from Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong supplemented Scott Sinclair’s sublime opener, but Young was satisfied that Albion Rovers will be a stronger side for the experience.

“I’m disappointed with the result but happy with the performance from the guys,” he said. 

“We knew it would be hard and we would be up against it. It was backs-to-the-wall stuff and we were just hoping to get a few breaks along the way.

“But Celtic are a quality team. There is a reason why nobody has beaten them this season.

“They keep the ball well and then when you lose it, they are right on top of you to win it back again.

“The only thing we can complain about is that when we won the ball, we didn’t keep it well enough.

“But again, they press you so much and make it hard for the players to keep possession.

“It’s been great for the club and for me, it’s been great to go and pit my wits against a quality team like Celtic and a manager like Brendan Rodgers who has been there and done that. 

“For the players, it’s been a good experience as they might never get another chance to play against Celtic.

 “To see that quality up close gives them an idea of how hard they need 
to work to get up to that level.”