What’s the score bro?
Alan counting on family rivalry to fuel Livi rise
ALAN FORREST reckons a goalscoring rivalry with his brother can net both their clubs crucial points.
The Livingston winger took his season’s tally to three with Friday’s last-minute winner at Dundee United.
It’s one more than James has this term after the Celtic wideman edged out his sibling in the scoring charts three seasons in a row.
Now the pair have been reunited in the top flight after Alan’s switch from Ayr.
And asked if they had a bet going, the 24-year-old said: “Aye! We always keep track of how each other’s getting on. Hopefully it helps both our teams too.
“To be fair, James usually comes out on top when it comes to goals but maybe this season I can give him a run for his money.
“We always watch each other’s games when we get the opportunity. James is doing well again this season – he has done so well for Celtic over the years.
“We take a real interest in each other’s game.”
Friday’s win leaves Gary Holt’s side inside the top six for the first time this season.
Forrest was in top form on Tayside as Livi earned only their fourth away win since returning to the top flight in 2018 and their first on grass in an astonishing 14 months.
The summer arrival has adapted well to his first season in the Premiership, starting eight of Livi’s games and coming off the bench in the other two.
He even went up against his brother for the first time two weeks ago when, in a moment worthy of a picture up on the mantelpiece, the pair were introduced to the action at the same time.
The Lions ace said: “It was a weird one. It was the first time we’d ever played against each other so to come on as subs together was strange but in a nice way.
“It was a brilliant picture and a special moment for the family as well.” It may have taken a 90th-minute clincher on Friday but there was no doubting Holt’s side deserved the win after peppering goal with 15 shots compared to United’s tame tally of one.
Forrest applied the finishing touch after Mark Connolly failed to deal with an awkward bouncing ball 30 yards from his own goal.
Lions sub Matej Poplatnik brilliantly nicked the ball off the dithering defender and raced through on goal before unselfishly cutting back for Forrest to tap home.
It completed a comeback after they fell behind in 18 minutes, Nicky Clark sending a curling free-kick around the wall and past the grasp of Robby McCrorie.
Giant defender Jon Guthrie had knocked home his second goal of the season from Marvin Bartley’s terrific low cross before Forrest took the plaudits.
Livi’s tried- and- tested system of getting the ball up to their frontmen quickly and playing in the final third caused Micky Mel lon’s rearguard a real problem.
Forrest, Scott Robinson and Scott Pittman were livewires behind fellow ex-Ayr man Scott Tiffoney.
And with Nicky Devlin and Julien Serrano bursting forward at every opportunity on the flanks, there’s a whole lot more to Livi’s game than the kick and rush tag they are unfairly lumbered with.
Forrest, who scored in the previous weekend’s 2-0 win at home to St Johnstone, said: “It’s great to get two goals in two games but far more important to get back-to- wins. And we deserved both.
“We knew we’d get chances in the second half and thankfully we took two of them. Hopefully now we can go on a run and keep getting positive results.” back hav e