Despite the 1-1 draw with St Mirren, Celtic fans lapped up their day in the sun as they celebrated title number 55 for Scotland’s most successful club.
In truth the 90 minutes played was something of a damp squib but perhaps that was to build up towards the on-pitch fireworks in stoppage time.
As a 53rd minute substitute James Forrest first appeared on the right wing, switched briefly to the left then delivered the moment that all fans will remember deep into stoppage time.
His first time shot from Alistair Johnston’s lay off was greeted by an incredible roar, not the type normally associated with a late equaliser against St Mirren.
Back in April 2011 Forrest scored his first ever Celtic goal at the same end of the park, 26 medals later his low shot beyond Zach Hemmings made it 16 seasons running as a Celtic scorer.
The joy of the goal was followed by the realisation that the bhoy from Prestwick had joined Paul McStay, Bobby Lennox, James McGrory and Jimmy McMenamy in exulted company.
Forrest’s story is a remarkable one, in the summer of 2016 there were real doubts over whether he had any future at Celtic.
When Brendan Rodgers arrived as manager big changes were expected, a new broom and a new era to fill the stadium and bring fresh hope and enthusiasm.
Forrest joined Tom Rogic, Mikael Lustig and Scott Brown among the survivors. Tony Stokes, Charlie Mulgrew and Kris Commons weren’t seen again.
Mousa Dembele and Scott Sinclair were the big name signings of the new manager but at Tynecastle in the opening SPFL match under Rodgers it was Forrest that opened the scoring after eight minutes, Sinclair with the 81st minute winner is the enduring memory from that match.
Ange Postecoglou’s arrival as manager in June 2021 provided a new challenge, as did the return of Rodgers two years later.
Marco Tilio, Luis Palma, Yang Hyun-jun and Nicolas Kuhn have all been signed to spice things up on the wings but last season and this Forrest has had a telling contribution to make.
His team-mates value him, his manager certainly does and increasingly the Celtic support realise what he has to offer.
In midweek at Aberdeen he was the Man of the Match, creating assists rather than scoring he needed some arm-twisting to take the acclaim of the fans after the final whistle.
There was no avoiding the acclaim for his goal against St Mirren but already Forrest has his sights set on Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen and the opportunity to earn a 27th winners medal.
Only a fool would bet against Forrest pushing towards the 30 mark, a decade after looking an unlikely survivor under Rodgers I.
RELATED READING
