Celtic defeated St Pauli 2-0 in Hamburg on Tuesday

Celtic recorded another victory with captain Scott Brown wishing the season had not come to an end after the 2-0 friendly defeat of St Pauli.

Second-half goals from Paddy McCourt and Morten Rasmussen secured the win in Hamburg over the side promoted this season to the German Bundesliga.

That followed six wins in a row in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

"I would rather the new season was starting tomorrow," said Brown. "I wish we could have continued playing."

Celtic's results have improved since former reserve coach Neil Lennon took over as caretaker following the sacking of Tony Mowbray as Rangers went on to retain the Scottish Premier League title.

"We have taken our criticism and we have had to take it, so now we move on from that," Brown told Celtic's website.

We couldn't get a run of results until Neil Lennon came in and then, bang, it started to work Celtic captain Scott Brown

"It wasn't the best season in the world and everyone knows that as we let the fans down and let ourselves down.

"We managed to win eight league games in a row at the end of the season and we want to kick on from that into next season.

"We want to get started again and the results at the end of the season have heightened our expectations."

Celtic ended the season without a trophy, city rivals Rangers also winning the Co-operative Insurance Cup while Dundee United lifted the Scottish Cup by defeating Ross County, the First Division side who defeated Brown's side in the previous round.

"Our determination to bring back success is doubled and some of the boys who were new to the club now know the situation," said the Celtic captain.

"You cannot get beaten when you are a Celtic player. It just can't happen and we have to bring some silverware back next season."

Lennon took the chance on Tuesday to give some fringe players a chance to impress against the German side who are celebrating their centenary.

Both sides squandered several clear-cut chances during a first half in which St Pauli just had the edge, but Celtic dominated after the break in the Millerntor Stadium.

Winger McCourt made the breakthrough after 60 minutes, weaving past two defenders before coolly slotting the ball low into the far corner, while striker Rasmussen added the second in the closing minutes with a neat shot on the turn from six yards.

Brown hopes that the stay-away fans will have been encouraged to return to Celtic Park next term, the club having extended the deadline for supporters to renew their season tickets.

"Things didn't click when Tony Mowbray was here and sometimes it takes a wee change," he added.

"We couldn't get a run of results until Neil Lennon came in and then, bang, it started to work.

"Before that, the home support went down a bit and you can understand that because we weren't doing enough.

"But a full Celtic Park is frightening for opposition players. It puts them under pressure and we thrive on that."

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