Sport nationChris Sutton Hits Back at English Football’s Perception of Scottish Game
Chris Sutton, the former Celtic striker, has taken a swipe at the English football community’s dismissive view of Scottish football. Sutton’s comments came after Matt O’Riley’s impressive performance for Brighton against Manchester City, highlighting the midfielder’s seamless transition from Celtic.
Sutton expressed his delight on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Really pleased for Matt O’Riley coming down to the farmer’s league and getting off the mark early… Joking aside, he had that horrendous (injury) in his first game in the League Cup, he got topped, that was a terrible challenge.”
He praised O’Riley’s abilities, saying: “He is a really outstanding footballer, he has got wonderful awareness, he has an eye for a pass, and he really improved in his time at Celtic. A really smart piece of business. And Celtic, albeit they have had a good start to the season, miss him.”
Earlier, on It’s All Kicking Off, Sutton reiterated his point, labeling the Premier League the “Farmers League” and stating: “My moment of the weekend was Matt O’Reilly scoring. Coming down south from Celtic to Brighton to the Farmers League and making it look like a doddle.”
Sutton’s comments reflect his frustration with the English football community’s perception of Scottish football. As a former Celtic player, he understands the challenges of competing at a high level in Scotland.
By highlighting O’Riley’s success, Sutton aims to challenge the notion that Scottish football is inferior. His remarks serve as a reminder that Celtic, and Scottish football as a whole, produce talented players capable of excelling in the Premier League.
As the debate surrounding Scottish football’s quality continues, Sutton’s intervention adds weight to the argument that the league deserves more respect. Will O’Riley’s performances help shift perceptions about Scottish football’s stature?
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