James Forrest hit a double on his first start for five months as Celtic maintained their lead at the top of the cinch Premiership with a 2-1 victory at Dundee.
Forrest was drafted in for only his fourth start of the season after coming off the bench to net in last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen.
Such was Forrest’s influence at Hampden that manager Brendan Rodgers admitted he might have underused the 32-year-old this season.
And his feeling could only have grown as the winger stole the show at Dens Park to take his season tally to six goals.
Forrest volleyed home a powerful strike from 18 yards on the half-hour mark and started and finished the move that doubled the lead midway through the second half.
The victory swiftly restored Celtic’s three-point lead following Rangers’ 2-1 win at St Mirren in the early kick-off, although their goal difference advantage stayed at five after substitute Adam Idah sliced the ball into his own net as he tried to clear Antonio Portales’ shot.
Celtic had scored 26 goals in their previous six meetings with Dundee, half of the tally coming this season, but the champions would have been satisfied to maintain the status quo at the top of the table after some late pressure, during which visiting goalkeeper Joe Hart was booked for time-wasting.
Forrest was involved from the opening moments, working room to shoot wide from long range, and Nicolas Kuhn was also cutting in to good effect from the right wing, forcing two saves from Jon McCracken.
James Forrest with our winner 🤩#DUNCEL | #cinchPrem | #COYBIG🍀pic.twitter.com/Z3vA5Ovdvp
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 28, 2024
The Dundee goalkeeper pulled off a better stop from Greg Taylor’s close-range header after Liam Scales had headed on a corner.
Reo Hatate then stabbed wide from close range after brilliant wing play from Forrest.
Dundee had a brief spell of attacking play and Amadou Bakayoko could not react quickly enough to make the most of Owen Dodgson’s cross, the ball trundling into Hart’s hands off his foot.
Celtic got back on top and Forrest produced his moment of magic. The Scotland international showed brilliant technique to fire a shot into the corner of the net as it sat up following Kyogo Furuhashi’s touch on the edge of the box. McCracken did not have time to move.
However, the champions did not build on their lead. Hart held long-range efforts from stand-in Dundee captain Luke McCowan and Bakayoko before the break and the home side put Celtic under pressure with some balls into the box after the interval.
Dodgson’s corners were causing particular concern for the Celtic defence and Mo Sylla headed just wide before Hart saved Jordan McGhee’s header.
The visitors settled the game down and Forrest drilled the ball through McCracken’s legs with his left foot after dispossessing Portales, taking a return pass from Hatate and riding challenges from two Dundee defenders.
Forrest had been substituted by the time Dundee pulled a goal back in the 74th minute. Portales volleyed a second shot towards goal following Dodgson’s corner and substitute Idah made a mess of his clearance on the six-yard line.
With Celtic skipper Callum McGregor also substituted, the goal set up a nervy finish for the travelling fans but Dundee’s hopes ended when substitute Michael Mellon headed wide from a deep free-kick in stoppage-time.
Aston Villa captain John McGinn joked his side will “have our Man City tops on” on Tuesday after closing in on Champions League qualification with a 3-3 draw with Liverpool.Jhon Duran scored twice in the final 10 minutes as Villa came from 3-1 down to earn a vital point, which means they will be guaranteed a top-four spot if Tottenham fail to beat Manchester City on Tuesday night.If Sp...
Jhon Duran scored twice in the final 10 minutes to earn Aston Villa a thrilling 3-3 draw against Liverpool which moves them closer to Champions League qualification.Villa looked dead and buried as Emiliano Martinez’s astonishing gaffe handed the Reds a second-minute goal, which was cancelled out by Youri Tielemans, before strikes from Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah put them 3-1 up in Jurgen K...
Let's start our 7M Daily Laugh today. Arsenal will be rooting for their biggest rivals on Tuesday to help their title hopes Villa draw 3-3 vs. LiverpoolThere's still Champions League hope for Spurs next season The Old Trafford roof could be a problem for INEOS Emi Antony Meme Race for Spanish super cup is on ! Tottenham will decide The 2023-24 Premier League Winner! Please stay tuned o...
The future of Kevin De Bruyne at Man City remains uncertain and the Premier League champions have their eye on Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as the Belgian’s replacement at the Etihad. De Bruyne’s contract at City expires in 2025 and with the midfielder turning 33 this summer, the Manchester club are not guaranteed to offer the player a new deal.With uncertainty surrounding th...
Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold in recent months and transfer journalist Matteo Moretto states that the full-back is still an option for the La Liga giants. The right-back’s contract at Anfield expires in 2025 and there have been no talks over a renewal. Should the defender fail to pen a new deal, this summer would be the ideal time to se...
Sunderland youngster Chris Rigg could be set for a big money Premier League move.The Northern Echo states that Manchester United are ready to put in a bid for his signature.The almost 17-year-old has already played 21 times in the Championship for the Black Cats.However, he has not even signed a professional deal and is still on scholarship terms.United would be able to secure him for a modest fee...
Juventus are in talks with Manchester United for Mason Greenwood.The forward is on-loan with Getafe this season, where his form has attracted interest from across Europe.TMW says Juve are willing to splash out to sign Greenwood outright, knowing his deal will expire at the end of next season.Getafe president Angel Torres, however, has stated confidence of keeping hold of the youngster."He wants to...
A host of Bayern Munich players including Harry Kane are urging the club to keep Thomas Tuchel in charge next season.Tuchel due to leave Bayern this summer Guided club to UCL semi-finals Players divided on German's exitWHAT HAPPENED?Bayern's run of poor form in the league saw them forfeit their Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen, ending their run of 11 consecutive titles. As a result, the former...
LIVERPOOL are weighing up a shock swoop for Anthony Gordon, it's been claimed.Gordon has flourished in his first full season with Newcastle United, scoring 11 goals and racking up 11 assists for The Magpies.Anthony Gordon has been one of Newcastle's best players this season Credit: GETTYThe 23-year-old's fine form this campaign has seen Gareth Southgate reward him with his first two England caps.A...
SERGIO RAMOS is in "advanced negotiations" for a move to the MLS this summer, according to reports.The Real Madrid legend, 38, returned to boyhood club Sevilla last summer after two years with Paris Saint-Germain.Sergio Ramos' Sevilla contract is set to expire in the summer Credit: GettyHe has played 34 times this season - scoring seven goals - but the team have struggled and are languishing in 12...
- 1 Jude Bellingham hails Real Madrid’s desire to seal Champions League final berth
- 2 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 3 Marc Skinner wants to stay at Manchester United after ‘historic’ FA Cup win
- 4 Danilo Orsi nets hat-trick as Crawley thrash MK Dons to reach play-off final
- 5 Madelene Wright returns to football four years after she was sacked
- 6 Man Utd fans stunned after seeing what Antony just got tattooed on his body
- 7 Mbappe bids farewell to everyone at PSG... except the most important person
- 8 Man Utd eyeing Fulham CB Adarabioyo
- 9 Major Liverpool star still an option for Real
- 10 Eddie Howe hopes Newcastle can secure a top-six Premier League finish