Celtic boss Rodgers hails brilliant Forrest
Brendan Rodgers hailed one of the "fathers" of Celtic's recent success after James Forrest reproduced his vintage form with a match-winning double at Dens Park.
The winger capitalised on a first start in five months to score both of Celtic's goals in a 2-1 victory over Dundee, which kept them three points and five goals ahead of Rangers at the top of the cinch Premiership table.
Forrest was handed only his fourth start of the season after an excellent goalscoring cameo against Aberdeen at Hampden last weekend and he responded by taking his goal tally for the campaign to six.
Rodgers had admitted during the week that he might have underused the 32-year-old this season and Forrest underlined that theory on Tayside.
The Scotland international, who has 22 winners' medals with Celtic, opened the scoring with a stunning 18-yard volley on the half-hour mark. He doubled the lead midway through the second half when he won possession, took a return pass from Reo Hatate and fired home with his left foot.
Rodgers said: "He's just a brilliant player. I said to the guys afterwards, he's one of the remaining fathers of the success that this club has had over the last decade or so in particular.
"There's very few of them but he is definitely one of them that has created this mentality and symbol of quality over this past decade that this club has had.
"His first finish is sublime really, what technique, and his second one he makes it look easier than it is.
"He may not quite have the legs he had a number of years back but he certainly has the quality, that doesn't diminish. He was our match-winner and I'm so happy for him."
Meanwhile, Philippe Clement admitted Rangers' performance in their 2-1 win at St Mirren was far from "sexy" but insisted winning was all that mattered.
Clement said: "They did what they need to do and that is winning games. That is the first thing.
"Was it our most sexy game? No. But it is also the circumstances and all respect to St Mirren also.
"They are aggressive, they are powerful in the duels, the pitch is also smaller and that creates more duels.
"We had to dig in, we knew that from before, but the team did. We get the result."
