Forrest’s got Heart of a Lion
Gaffer tips winger to take Europe by storm if he moves to capital IAIN COLLIN AT THE TONY MACARONI ARENA
DUNDEE said farewell to the Premiership – and to manager Mark McGhee – as they faced up to life in the Championship next season.
But Livingston boss David Martindale is convinced match-winner Alan Forrest could be a sensation in Europe if he joined Hearts.
The winger only played for half an hour against Dundee but proved why he has attracted such attention as his Livi contract ends.
After laying on the equaliser for Andrew Shinnie, Forrest curled in a brilliant clincher to send the Lions into the summer on a high.
The 25-year-old had a change of mind in January when he pulled out of a move to St Johnstone while Dundee United are also on his trail.
But Martindale reckons the stature of Hearts – and the prospect of guaranteed group stage football in Europe – will see him end up at Tynecastle.
And he will go with the boss’s blessing.
He said: “Can I change his mind? I’d like to think so but he has an opportunity to play for one of the top four clubs in the league so I think he has to take it. And, if he does leave, he’ll go with my best wishes. “He’s a great kid and you never know – in years to come, we might work together again. “But I’ll take a lot of satisfaction if, for instance, he’s running out at Tynecastle to play for Hearts next season because it’s a great club with a fantastic support and tremendous facilities.” He added: “I’m saying it’s Hearts and that’s who I assume he’s joining because he’s spoken about them. That might not be his final decision but I hope it is. Hearts have a huge budget and there will be lots of players being offered to Robbie Neilson so it’ll be difficult for him.”
It was a day for goodbyes at Livingston as Craig Sibbald and Jack McMillan played their final games, and loan players Adam Lewis and Sebastian Soto also had rare starts.
The changes disrupted Livi’s usual rhythm and Dundee kicked off as if they meant business.
There was no-one feeling sorry for themselves in the visitors’ ranks as Paul McMullan was denied by Max Stryjek – another who is expected to leave Livi – and Max Anderson hit the outside of the post from the corner.
Stryjek produced another stunning save from McMullan as the best Livi could muster was a penalty appeal that instead ended with Cristian Montano being booked for diving.
Dundee finally broke through in the 59th minute against the run of play. Jordan Marshall clipped in a cross and Josh Mulligan powered in a header for his second goal in two games. Martindale called for the cavalry as he threw on Forrest, Nicky Devlin and Joel Nouble on the hour mark. Fifteen minutes later, veteran goalkeeper and cult hero Gary Maley was also sent on. Within two minutes, the Lions were level. Forrest kept things alive after Devlin’s header was cleared off the line and Shinnie swept in his smart low pass in a crowded box. Six minutes later, Forrest completed the comeback. Odin Bailey burst into space on the right before picked out Forrest 20 yards out. The winger shimmied to his left and curled a magnificent shot beyond Harry Sharp. “The game-changer was putting big Gary Maley on,” joked Martindale. “We were 1-0 down and we win 2-1, so that’s got to be the headline. He was man of the match too. There can’t be many players who have played 18 minutes and won man of the match.”