‘WE REALLY DESERVED IT,’ FORREST

JAMES FORREST insists Celtic proved a massive point with their 2-1 Europa League Group E triumph over Serie A cracks Lazio in Rome last night.

The Hoops were stung when top marksman Ciro Immobile opened the scoring in the seventh minute after some slack play at the back.

However, Forrest came up with the perfect response with the interval approaching when he lashed in the equaliser and Olivier Ntcham made history when he chipped in the stoppage-time winner.

It may have taken the Parkhead men 13 attempts to win on Italian soil, but it was certainly one that was savoured by one and all, on and off the pitch at the Olympic Stadium.

Forrest, speaking on the Celtic Website, said: “Maybe the first 10/15 minutes, we didn’t do ourselves justice. But, after that, we really showed that we can play football at this level.

“We worked really hard, and while big Fraser kept us in the game at times, I still felt we could have scored more. It’s such a great night, it’s unbelievable and it’s a great feeling.

“It was important to get us back on to level terms. We had a few chances before the goal, but scoring made sure we went into the break full of belief.

“We also carried that into the second-half, but as the match wore on, it looked like we were going to draw 1-1. And then it was a great piece of skill from Olly right at the death. There were incredible scenes at the end.”

Forrest added: “It’s a great night and great result, it has to be up there with the best I’ve ever had. The players, and everyone on the bench, you saw their reactions at the end, everyone put in such a good shift from start to finish.

“We really deserved it with all the effort we put in.”

The triumph gave Neil Lennon’s men back-to-back wins over the Italians and added to the victory over Cluj in Glasgow and the 1-1 draw with Rennes in France.

The 10 points guarantee them a place in the competition’s knock-out stages next year with two games still to play.