sport news Dundee 1-2 Celtic: James Forrest's brace sees Brendan Rodgers' side maintain ... trends now
With four games to play Celtic need players who know how to grind out league titles when the nerves jangle and vibrate like the bells on the town hall clock. In James Forrest they have a player who has been there, seen it and done it. Time and time again.
It’s hard to know if the winger’s re-emergence as the best winger at Celtic is a testament to his powers of endurance or a damning statement on his potential replacements.
Whatever the truth, this much is undeniable. At the age of 32, heading into the twilight of his Celtic career, there’s life in the old dog yet.
His first league title in green and white arrived 12 years ago. Like a twinkle-toed Bobby Lennox two goals on a tense day in Dundee brought another league winners’ medal one step closer.
His first double since October 2022 began with A stunning strike after half an hour.. His second, after 67 minutes, settled Celtic down a ropey start to the second half. It didn’t finish the game as a contest.
James Forrest netted a brace in his first start since November as Celtic defeated Dundee
Before kick-off no player had scored more goals in the Scottish Premiership as a substitute than Adam Idah. The on-loan Norwich striker’s hapless own goal with 16 minutes to play dragged Dundee into contention and made for an edgy, nerve shredding conclusion to the game for the league leaders.
Credit to Dundee for a second half performance when they caused Celtic real problem with corners and free-kicks.
Forced to sit high in the stand after one yellow card too many manager Tony Docherty watched Luke McCowan follow his man of the match display against Rangers with another fine individual performance.
Two points behind St Mirren in the race for Europe it wasn’t quite enough. Dundee’s last victory over Celtic of any kind was a 2-0 win at Parkhead in May 2001 and they’re still waiting.
Kudos to the statto who worked out that that the last win over the champions at Dens Park came a staggering 13,000 days ago.
More recently Dundee had lost their last nine meetings with Celtic, the most recent a 7-1 rout in Glasgow. At the risk of labouring the point they were on their their worst run against the team in green and white since a 13-game winless streak between October 1965 and October 1971.
Celtic started with a purpose which suggested the record wouldn’t be changing here. In a brisk, high tempo opening Nicholas Kuhn cut in from the right and tested keeper Jon McCracken with long range low strikes. The second, in particular, was a decent effort.
The one-club man opened the scoring with a sensational volley from the edge of the box
The hosts enjoyed a sustained spell of momentum after the interval but were unable to equalise
The early possession stats showed 80% in Celtic’s favour. And they scorned two glorious opportunities to score when Liam Scales flicked an O’Riley corner towards the back post where Greg Taylor seemed certain to score. Somehow McCracken blocked it on the line.
When Reo Hatate blew another golden chance you began to wonder. James Forrest
