Celtic keen to write next chapter in their history

HAD Celtic’s late draw against St Mirren ended with a victory instead of a share of the spoils, the scenes would hardly have got even half-way towards the reaction to the last-gasp equaliser.

The fairytale moment for James Forrest, as he maintained his record of have scored in every season he has played—16 in all—came with practically the last kick of the league season. It was yet another sign of the magic which seems to come to the surface with Celtic—even as the club hosted the long-awaited celebration of a league title, which was a sure thing months ago.

The final league match was an occasion which could easily have fizzled out—and indeed the fare on offer looked like being a damp squib, with Celtic struggling to get any joy out of a strong St Mirren team who had grabbed the lead and were defending it with their lives.

But somehow, the draw that was rescued sparked scenes of bedlam as Celtic Park acknowledged a faithful servant to the club, the most decorated Celt of all time, and a man who can now point to the proud record of having put one in the back of the net each year for nearly half of his life.

It was important, also, to retrieve something from a match which could have easily deflated the side just a week before their opportunity to seal another treble, with a Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen.

Having cuffed Aberdeen at Pittodrie with a second string, it remained important to avoid showing any weakness, and by forcing a draw with almost the last passage of play Celtic have reinforced to their cup final opponents that even if they catch them on an off-day, the champions will pose a danger right to the very end.

Consistently consistent

“It’s been brilliant and the guys deserved to get something from the game,” manager Brendan Rodgers said after the match. “The consistency overall, and with consistency that’s about mentality, and the players every single day deserve so much credit. We’ve pushed them, they responded from mistakes and you can only be as good as we’ve been this season because of the players.

“They’ve been absolutely incredible, but I think there’s been a real connection with the support and the team, and that’s been great to see.”

“In the second-half we were better, created a lot of chances and then what a story at the end, It’s just incredible really and it’s so deserving, and it means everybody leaves here a champion but also seeing James score, so it was amazing.

“Ali (Johnston) did so well because I was thinking it’s opened up for him and he’s got a good strike on him, but it was really good composure and, also for James, he could have just lashed at that, but it was a nice touch, good composure and it hit the target and went in.

“It’s important to celebrate this achievement because to be as comfortable as we’ve been throughout the season—that takes a lot of work.

“However, we’ve kept going, kept focused and now we’ve got one more title to try and aim for, but we’ll celebrate this and then get ready next week for next Saturday at Hampden.”

Hunger for success

The milestone goal for James Forrest puts him in the same company as Jimmy McGrory and Paul McStay—who also share that record—but along with his team-mates he has the opportunity to the surpass any other generation of Celtic players for domestic success.

One trophy after another has tumbled for the Champions—almost without interruption—for over a decade, and the prospect of another treble underlines the heights which Celtic have hit in Scottish football.

Forrest himself underlined that hunger for success, even as he reflected on his landmark goal.

“I don’t think you could have written it any better,” he said. “Everyone has been wanting me to score and get the record, so I’m just happy to do it for everyone.

“It’s hard to put it into words. I’m just trying to enjoy every last minute of playing for Celtic. It’s been an unbelievable career and I’ve absolutely loved it and I hope I still have a few big moments and trophies like this.

“When you get days like this, it just makes you want more.”

Celtic don’t have long to wait for the chance for more—just seven days. With a ticket scramble well underway and those lucky enough to have secured their admission to Hampden Park already counting down the minutes, the next chapter of Celtic’s history will be written by a team high on confidence, used to success and hungry for more.

Anything can happen in a cup final—and Celtic know from their first treble of the recent era that they will be made to work by their opponents—but you wouldn’t want to be Aberdeen when they walk out into a the cauldron at Hampden with an expectant Celtic support, whose hunger is a long way from being satisfied, urging their side on for even more.