Beating my idol Forster was a dream SAYS MARC McNULTY
I was at famous Celtic match against Barca
MARC McNULTY watched in wonderment as his heroes Fraser Forster and Victor Wanyama brought Barcelona’s galaxy of stars crashing down to earth.
On that memorable night at Celtic Park in November 2012, as Wanyama’s first-half header set Neil Lennon’s men on the road to the last 16 of the Champions League, t he young Livingston forward was too caught up in the excitement to contemplate his own future.
Never in his wildest dreams, though, could the 22-year-old have imagined a scenario where his name was the one being chanted by thousands of adoring fans, while Forster and Wanyama — the Catalan conquerors — were sloping off the pitch in disgrace.
Yet that is what happened on Tuesday night when the 22-year-old’s winning goal for League One Sheffield United knocked Premier League high-fliers Southampton out of the League Cup at Bramall Lane.
In the second half, McNulty capitalised on a rare blunder by England keeper Forster, sending the Blades into their first semi-final in the competition since 2002-03. And, as he struck the killer blow, he admitted his mind was taken back to that memorable evening under the Parkhead floodlights as Lionel Messi and Co were vanquished by those he was now upstaging.
‘It’s not really sunk in yet — I am stil l pinching myself,’ he t old Sportsmail yesterday.
‘It’s funny because I am a Celtic fan and it’s not that long ago I was going to the Champions League games at Parkhead to cheer on Fraser Forster and Victor Wanyama.
‘I was at that famous match against Barcelona when Tony Watt scored the winner. Fraser was brilliant that night. The saves he made were unbelievable. And Victor scored the opening goal.
‘So it’s strange to be suddenly on the same pitch against them — let alone scoring the winning goal. I didn’t really get a chance to speak to them afterwards. We were going a bit mental and celebrating our win.
‘Their players weren’t too happy and they got themselves up the tunnel pretty quickly.
‘ But i t was a great night. Southampton have been flying in the Premier League, so it was brilliant to get the winner. And to hear 20,000 singing my name is the stuff you dream of as a kid — and it’s come true.
‘There will be big teams in the semi-finals [like Chelsea] but we are not bothered who we draw. We will take anyone.’
McNulty’s confidence i n his team’s cup form is built on solid foundations. Last season, Sheffield United reached the semis of the FA Cup, defeating Fulham and Aston Villa on the way before losing 5-3 to Hull City in a thriller at Wembley.
Tuesday’s win over Southampton means they have lost just once in 18 knockout matches, and the remarkable run has been achieved with a Scottish spine. In 1979 and 1980, Brian Clough’s legendary European champions Nottingham Forrest boasted Scots like John McGovern, Kenny Burns, John Robertson, Archie Gemmill John O’Hare and Frank Gray.
In Sheffield in 2014, Clough’s son, Nigel — who admits his dad’s posse of Scots made a big impression on him — has nine in his United squad.
As well as McNulty, there’s Bob Harris, Ryan Flynn, Stefan Scougall, Neill Collins, Jamie Murphy, Stephen McGinn, Iain Turner and former Scotland defender Jay McEveley.
There is also a trio of ex-SPL stars in Michael Higdon, Chris Porter and Mark Howard.
In training, Clough fosters team spirit by playing The Scots against The Rest and told Sportsmail earlier this year: ‘Anybody who looks Scottish or knows anyone Scottish goes into their team.
‘Terry Kennedy, the centre-half with red hair, is usually the one. He pleads not to go in, says he’s from Barnsley and everything, but he looks a bit Scottish, so he gets lumped in there.
‘We don’t put any money on it because if we did then the Scots would win every time! If there’s a pound on it, then the Scots are not too keen on losing!’
McNulty admits the Scottish contingent in the Steel City was a big factor in him moving south from Livingston in the summer after his 19 goals attracted a £125,000 bid from Clough.
‘ It’s great having the other Scottish lads here,’ said McNulty, who wore a protective face mask during the Southampton game after fracturing his cheek in an off-the-field incident.
‘ I’m big friends with Stefan Scougall from our days at Livingston and he’s helped me settle in.
‘ We r ecently went to s ee Manchester City play Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
‘But all of the Scottish lads have helped me settle in since I’ve come down to Sheffield.
‘We play Scotland versus The Rest in training but the gaffer doesn’t like it very much because the Scottish boys always win. It’s a good laugh, though.
‘I obviously missed out on the run to the FA Cup semi-finals last year but I was good friends with some of the lads in the team, so I watched all the games.
‘I was a bit jealous of not being on the pitch but, hopefully, we can get to Wembley again.
‘I’m loving it down here. There were a couple of clubs in the Scottish Premiership interested in me but, as soon as I knew Sheffield United were interested, there was only one place I was going.
‘I always knew Sheffield United was a big club, but it’s even bigger than I thought.’
For McNulty, though, there was disappointment, too, this week following the news that John McGlynn had been sacked as Livingston manager. Along with youth coach Brian Welsh, McGlynn did much to help rebuild the striker’s career after he was let go by Hibs as a teenager.
‘John McGlynn was a big influence on me,’ he said. ‘I’ve kept in contact with him. I loved working with him and he gave the club his all. He put his heart and soul into Livingston but, unfortunately, they’ve not been getting the results.
‘It’s disappointing to see him lose his job. I think overall he did a good job there and I hope he bounces back soon.’