Forrest: No margin for error in Europe

JAMES Forrest was sitting at home, watching on TV as Celtic fell to a 2-0 Europa League defeat to RB Leipzig.

Now he knows the club’s margin for error has gone if they want to avoid being in that position on a permanent basis.

Both parts of Red Bull’s energy drink empire have left the Parkhead outfit in their wake in the Group B standings at the halfway stage, but the 27-year-old is hopeful things will be different for the Scottish champions at the east end of Glasgow.

“It was obviously frustrating [to sit the match out with suspension],” said Forrest. “It was a weird feeling. It’s hard to explain what it’s like when you are fit but can’t be involved. You are just eager for the boys to do well.

“I am not used to being suspended. I got a red card in my second season under Lenny and maybe sat out one game.

“So it was strange and hopefully I don’t experience it again.

“It’s far better to be playing than stuck watching on the television. You do look closely though. And the boys did well at times, especially in that first 30 minutes. “It was a close game in the first half-anhour and it was really on edge. But they scored a couple of quick goals.

“When you are not playing you watch those involved and pay close attention to the guys in your position and who you may be up against. Everything helps.

“We’re looking forward to getting them back to Celtic Park. We know it’s a difficult group and Leipzig are a good team. But we have two home games left in the group and we know they will be important. We need to pick up points if we want to progress. There’s no margin for error now.

“We want to progress in Europe and it’s not beyond us to get out of the group. We need to win our home games and maybe pick up something away to Rosenborg. We are capable of doing it.”