Forrest on fire as league leaders
Stalwart shows his class with brace to keep Celtic three points clear
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CELTIC remain three points clear of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race after a nervy 2-1 win over Dundee at Dens Park after a brace by evergreen winger James Forrest. Brendan Rodgers’ side made heavy work of disposing of European football-chasing Dundee, but the champions answered the call on Tayside after Philippe Clement’s men had defeated St Mirren 2-1 earlier in the day in Paisley.
It was Forrest who lit up a dour first half with a quite sensational firsttime volley after 30 minutes to put the visitors 1-0 up in this contest after superb build-up play by Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi.
Dundee came storming out of the blocks in the second half and huffed and puffed as they chased an equaliser.
However, they were undone when Forrest lashed home what looked to be the clincher on 67 minutes.
Just when everybody thought all three points were heading to Glasgow, Dundee grabbed a lifeline on 77 minutes when an Antonio Portales shot deflected off Celtic substitute Adam Idah to reduce the arrears.
All of a sudden, it was game on but Celtic saw it out to squeak home.
At this late stage of the campaign winning is all that matters.
James Forrest is on fire
What a goal that was by veteran winger Forrest to open the scoring. It’s as sweet a volley as you will see struck all season. It was a goal of the highest quality and expertly executed. It was hit with precision and accuracy. It also gave Celtic the vital breakthrough at the half-hour mark just when the team needed it most and the game was hitting a lull.
What also cannot be underestimated is Hatate’s link-up play and Furuhashi’s sumptuous touch which laid it on a plate for his team-mate who did the rest with a clinical finish.
The 32-year-old led by example at the national stadium last weekend in the Scottish Cup semi-final and was rewarded by his manager who handed him a rare Premiership start. He lashed home the game-clinching goal in the 67th minute to make the points safe. Forrest has now scored five goals in 15 appearances in the Premiership against Dundee.
That was also his sixth of the season and his third in two games but more than that he has made an invaluable contribution to his club and manager in the quest for a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double... and he’s not nearly done yet!
Hatate still making up for lost time
The Japanese midfielder can be such a clever player. He may not quite be 100 per cent in terms of match fitness but he can make things happen for his team. His first involvement inside the opening 10 seconds was to brilliantly dummy the ball which completely took out his close man-to-man marker Malachi Boateng. He then proceeded to smash a sitter wide from eight yards out when it looked easier to score. However, the 26-year-old is getting there slowly but surely. He linked the play whenever he could but craved quicker thinkers to work alongside him. He effortlessly shunted the ball in and around the opposition box at tempo and speed which saw some of his team-mates fail to tune into his frequency and wavelength.
There is a balance to the Celtic team whenever Hatate features in it and he was involved in Forrest’s allimportant goal that broke the deadlock. He cracked a beauty off the post in the second half which would have seen the game done and dusted at 3-0.
for bigger and better things than the Dark Blues. Cool, calm, composed and assured on the ball as much as any of his Celtic counterparts in the engine room, the 26-year-old continues to impress this season with every outing. His stage is almost certainly a higher level. There will be no shortage of suitors for his signature, no doubt, come the summer. He is a joy to watch at times and his next career move surely has to propel him into the big time.
That is twice the Sky Sports cameras have rolled into Dens Park in recent weeks and McCowan has
been the pick of the bunch for Dundee. You get the feeling that Tayside boss Tony Docherty will be fighting a losing battle to keep him at the club over the next few weeks. Interested clubs should form an orderly queue. They won’t regret it if they manage to secure a genuine midfield talent.
Scales answers critics
Rodgers kept faith in Liam Scales at the heart of the defence after last weekend’s poor Hampden showing. There was a clamour for Polish defender Maik Nawrocki to replace him in the starting line-up. However, the Northern Irishman resisted the calls and the temptation. The Republic of Ireland centre-back did not let his boss down and put in a solid display of full of heart, guts and determination. Whenever Dundee did threaten to penetrate the Celtic rearguard, more often than not it was Scales who was there to head clear or put in a vital block or interception. It was the kind of performance that has typified his whole campaign. He might not be everyone’s cup of tea but he has been effective enough this season for his club without being spectacular.
Doing what it takes to become champions
Rodgers admitted on Friday lunchtime that it was time for the Celtic players to switch on their trophy heads and do everything in their power to become champions come May. This certainly was not a vintage display by his men but they do possess enough quality to keep teams at arm’s length. Although the 51-year-old will be concerned by the concession of another late goal which made this a more nervy affair than it needed to be. When Dundee pulled one back you sensed the trepidation and nervousness in the Celtic side. However, Celtic did what Celtic do. They saw it out and that is how title and cups are won.