JAMES FORREST’S season last time out came to a sad end when he limped off the Hampden pitch just 30 minutes after being introduced to the Scottish Cup Final encounter against Aberdeen.
The 34-year-old winger replaced the ineffective Nicolas Kuhn in the 66th minute, but his participation in the showpiece was cynically brought to a halt by a deliberate trip from behind by a Dons opponent as the Celt broke clear.
Mats Knoester swiped the feet from Forrest to send him tumbling and earned an instant yellow card from referee Don Robertson.
OUCH…James Forrest is sent crashing after a cynical trip from Aberdeen defender Mats Knoester in the Scottish Cup Final – and it was a sad end to the season for the Celtic veteran.
Johnny Kenny came on as Brendan Rodgers’ men failed to spark and it’s history now that the north-east club won the trophy on penalty-kicks as Celtic blew the opportunity of a sixth treble in nine years.
The champions travel to take on Jimmy Thelin’s side at Pittodrie on Sunday, but Forrest insists the visitors are NOT hell bent on revenge for what occurred in the south side of Glasgow on May 24.
The one-club man is adamant it is a fresh start and said: “You go to Pittodrie and every year I’ve been up there, the managers, coaches, fans, they all know it’s a hard game, so I don’t think we’ll look much into the Cup Final.
“It’s a new season and we want to get off to a good start, just keep the momentum going and, hopefully, get another three points.
“I think Aberdeen are one of the best teams in Scotland and there’s a rivalry there every time you play them.”
The Champions League play-off confrontation is coming up fast with the first leg due at Parkhead a week on Wednesday.
JOY BHOYS…Neil Lennon joins in the victory celebrations as Celtic players engulf matchwinner James Forrest following the 2013 triumph over Shakter Karagandy.
Kairat Almaty earned a 1-0 lead over Slovan Bratislava in midweek in Kazakhstan and all eyes will be the return in the Czech capital on Tuesday.
Forrest has fond memories of facing Kazakh opposition when he scored a last-gasp winner against Shakhter Karagandy in 2013 after Neil Lennon’s side had lost 2-0 in the away leg.
With the tie poised at 2-2, the pacy winger swooped to tuck away a memorable winner that saw his manager race halfway down the track to join in the celebrations.
Reflecting on an unforgettable European night under the lights in the east end of Glasgow, Forrest, speaking to The Herald, continued: “It’s hard to describe.
“That’s why you keep playing, you want more because it’s addictive, the feeling you have with the players.
“The buzz you get from it is, I don’t get it with anything else, and as I said, it is addictive.
“Sometimes you do that and then two days later you’re travelling up and you’re playing another game somewhere and you need to get going again.
“But then I think when you do experience stuff like that, it does make you think: ‘I want more of that’.
ON THE SPOT…James Forrest gives his forthright views to Celtic TV and the media.
“You go away pre-season, you’re working five, six weeks and double sessions, and at games that maybe no one’s watching or training sessions when no one’s there, but then it all comes worth it when you get moments like that, one hundred percent.”
Forrest, who will be out of contract in the summer, added: “I always just think, just keep trying to work hard and keep trying to play for as long as I can, as long as I feel good, because I’ve done this since I was a wee boy.
“So, I just think: ‘Try and go for it.’ I’ve got another year here and, as I said, I’m not even thinking about that now, just enjoying the games.
“It’s pressure games every couple of days and it is great to be a part of it.”
