Neil Lennon has heaped praise on his goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, after the big Englishman made two world class saves as Celtic beat Lazio 2-1 last night.
Forster, who started his Celtic career with two loan spells from 2010-2012, before signing a permanent deal that summer, rejoined Celtic in August from Southampton on loan.
“I know what Fraser’s capable of and he’s starting to show that. He makes saves other goalkeepers can’t make.”
As the game crept agonisingly slowly towards its conclusion, Tom Rogic’s clearance sat up for Cataldi, who struck a sublime volley from outside the area destined for the top corner but Forster managed to get across and deny the Italians.
“The block from Parolo was a brilliant save, too. You saw the two world-class saves he made.
Oh my word Fraser Forster! 🤯
A special, special save to secure the three points for Celtic!
What a night 🍀 pic.twitter.com/CSZcS5oxO5
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 24, 2019
“That’s why we brought him in. You need your goalkeeper in big games to perform and he’s certainly adapted to that,” the Celtic manager told the official Celtic website.
“I know what Fraser’s capable of and he’s starting to show that. He makes saves other goalkeepers can’t make.”
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 25, 2019
Since arriving at Celtic, Forster has reclaimed the Number One jersey that he left in July 2014 from the man that replaced him, Craig Gordon.
Celtic will be hoping that they can secure Forster on a permanent deal as the big man has proven his worth at this level.
Forster on the other hand, was delighted with himself for that save and the feeling it brought him, reminding him of why he wanted to come back to Celtic Park.
“I can’t put it in words. I could bawl my eyes out. I am just buzzing, I don’t think anyone will know how much it means to me.
“That is what I have missed when I haven’t been playing, I can’t describe the feeling. That is ultimately why I came back.”
“Did it rekindle memories of the Barcelona win? Yeah, a little bit.
“Every match is different but having had the 18 months I have had and the low points I’ve had to go through which one day I’ll chat about, to have a moment like that was something very special.
“The fans at the end…I can’t put it in words. I could bawl my eyes out.
“I am just buzzing, I don’t think anyone will know how much it means to me.
“With second save, I shut my eyes a little bit! It went my way. It was nice to make the saves and contribute to a fantastic team performance.
“To be fair, he caught it so sweet I didn’t have any time to think about anything. It was purely a reaction save, I am just buzzing that I made it.
“To score so late to make it 2-1 it would have been heartbreaking to concede.”
On the Lazio opener from Manuel Lazzari, Forster was beaten at his near post, not something he was particularly pleased about.
“It was hard, it kind of goes over my shoulder, which the hardest place to save as a keeper.
“If I had stood at the near post he would have slotted it in at the far post.
“You just try to do your best but I’m just buzzing we won. I thought he was going to whack it low but it was a good finish, he whacked it over my shoulder.”
ALSO ON THE CELTIC STAR…
SIMPLY UNMISSABLE…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Brigate verdi’s ‘Hail Hail’ 2 Laziale parto anale ‘Heil, Heil’ 1…see HERE.
‘Celtic Park, the Greatest Show on Earth,’ David Potter…see HERE.
