The Forrest Is On Fire: A Betfred Cup Final Match Report

SUNDAY 26TH NOVEMBER: BETFRED CUP FINAL; MOTHERWELL 0 CELTIC 2 (FORREST 49’, DEMBELE (PEN) 60’)

Celtic made it four domestic trophies out of four with a comfortable enough victory over Motherwell in today’s Betfred Cup Final at Hampden Park.

The game will mostly be remembered for a brilliant performance by James Forrest and some ‘unique’ decisions by referee Craig Thomson.

Mikael Lustig recovered in time to play in the game despite his injury suffered against PSG, and Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong started the game as expected after missing out against PSG.

The first-half was pretty uneventful, as Celtic struggles to create chances, the nearest thing a Forrest effort deflected just wide of goal. The most notable incidents were a dreadful tackle by Cedric Kipre on Moussa Dembele. which Thomson missed and then a poor challenge by Dembele which saw him booked. If Thomson had seen the Kipre challenge he would have been sent-off. Arguably the Dembele challenge was red card worthy too. See the Kipre challenge for yourself below.

The second-half was a different story, as Celtic took the lead in the 49th minute, James Forrest finding space at the edge of the penalty box then curling a shot into the bottom corner of the net, as Forrest scored in his second Betfred Cup in a row and third overall.

Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images

The game then burst into life, as Craig Gordon pulled off a superb save from a Louis Moult point-blank header.

Sinclair then had an effort saved, before the moment that changed the game arrived on the hour mark, as Kipre was sent-off and Celtic were awarded a penalty as Sinclair was sent sprawling in the box. The decision did look soft...but Kipre should have be ent-off in the first-half, so justice was done!!

Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images

Dembele did the necessary from the spot to make it 2-0, Dembele scoring a penalty in the Betfred Cup Final for the second year in a row.

Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images

It was now a case of how many goals, as substitute Leigh Griffiths hit the post and headed over the bar, and fellow sub Patrick Roberts came close on a few occasions.

The game ended 2-0, and Celtic celebrated winning the Betfred Cup for the second year in a row. Well done to Brendan Rodgers on picking the players up off the floor after the midweek thrashing against PSG, and to James Forrest who is having the best season of his career.

It’s onwards to Motherwell again in midweek as the Celtic bandwagon rolls on, 65 games unbeaten and counting.

Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images