CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan took a veiled swipe at Blackburn boss Paul Ince after the Hoops pushed the Old Trafford side all the way in their thrilling Champions League draw at Parkhead.

After Strachan’s team had lost 3-0 in the first Group E game last month in Manchester, Ince said the gulf between the two clubs had been “embarrassing” and it was a game “between men and boys”.

But the Scottish champions led from the the 13th minute against United on Wednesday, and only a late Ryan Giggs goal saved Alex Ferguson’s men.

Afterwards, without naming names, Strachan was pointed in his remarks: “Whatever we are, we are men,” he said. “I am happy that we are not boys as some people said.

“We can never be called boys because boys don’t play like that.”