CELTIC 3 KILMARNOCK 1
James Forrest will never be renowned for his aerial prowess.
But the winger scored his first top-team header to seal the points for Celts – and prove why they’re a cut above everyone in the Premiership.
It wrapped up yet another victory for Brendan Rodgers’ side who had been pegged back to 1-1 when Jordan Jones ca ncel l ed out Stua r t Armstrong’s first-half opener.
Scott Sinclair then put Celtic back in front but it was Forrest’s rare headed goal that sealed the victory af ter Moussa Dembele’s shot had come back off the post.
The Scotland winger said: “It’s a bit of a shock. I might have scored a header at Under-17 level but apart from that never.”
Dembele set up the clincher after coming off the bench and Forrest said: “Moussa has been so important to us so everyone’s buzzing he’s back.
“This is the right time for Moussa just before we play Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final.”
Forrest signed a long-term deal earlier this season so he was chuffed when his gaffer followed suit on Friday.
Rodgers committed his future to Celtic by penning a four-year contract – and the wideman believes this is only the beginning of their success story under him.
Forrest said: “All the boys are delighted. A few of us have signed a new deal so for him to sign up for the same length of time just continues the buzz about the place.
“It’s exciting what we can achieve under him, now that he has committed long-term. Since he has come in it has been perfect.
“But he’s always working on us, he doesn’t want to stop.”
That’s in the future. In the here and now, Celtic are chasing a domestic Treble and an Invincibles tag.
Killie gaffer Lee McCulloch had seen Partick earn a point at Parkhead in midweek and thought he could pull off a similar result. It involved sitting tight for the first half hour, with a deep back five, four in front and just Conor Sammon up top.
The Jags did it with Ade Azeez on Wednesday and it worked a treat.
It meant Rodgers’ side would have 80 per cent of the ball but they had to thread passes through the eye of a needle to create any clear-cut chances.
That game plan can come undone if you concede early though – and Celtic netted in 22 minutes.
The Hoops had already t h reatened – Sinclai r squeezed a shot wide, Callum McGregor’s effort was tipped over then just before the opener skipper Scott Brown was denied by Freddie Woodman. McGregor kept that move al ive, feeding Armstrong, and the in-form midfielder rifled in his 14th goal of the campaign.
Woodman might have got to it but he was unsighted with so many defensive bodies in front of him.
It was the start Rodgers was looking for and, almost immediately, Kilmarnock changed their shape by moving young Iain Wilson from defence into midfield.
But with Celtic so dominant by that stage, it was difficult to suddenly get a foothold.
And it wa s unsung hero McGregor who was orchestrating most of their best moves.
He’s not f lawless by any stretch. But there’s no one
But thi s t ime the y responded right away.
Armstrong’s free- kick was kept alive by Boyata, Roberts flashed it across goal and Sinclair was there to tap in.
As if that didn’t deflate Killie enough, Rodgers then threw on fit-again duo Dembele and Tom Rogic.
The big Aussie sent Sinclair clear but despite beating Woodman, Gary Dicker cleared off the line.
Celtic did get their third though when Dembele’s deflected shot spun over the keeper and hit the post before Forrest followed up brilliantly to nod home.