James Forrest says Celtic have already learned lessons from last weekend’s derby draw at Ibrox as the team prepares to face Rangers again in the Scottish Cup. Celtic’s most decorated player also paid tribute to Callum McGregor, who spoke at half-time while the Hoops were 2–0 down.
The winger was part of the squad that watched the match swing dramatically after the break. Rangers controlled large parts of the first half and built a two-goal lead while Celtic struggled to settle into the game.
Passes in midfield were rushed and the ball kept coming back toward Celtic’s defence. Rangers pushed forward with more confidence and forced the visitors to defend deeper than they would have wanted.
After the interval the tempo changed. Celtic began to press higher and the midfield started to find more space. The ball moved quicker through the centre of the pitch and Rangers were forced to retreat.
That shift allowed Celtic to build pressure. Attacks began coming down the wings and crosses were delivered earlier into the box. The equaliser arrived late, but the momentum had been building long before that moment.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “Form can go out the window and you look at the game last week, we were probably miles off in the first half.
“But we rectified that in the second half. The boys were really good, they turned that around.
“It showed a lot of character in the changing room that the boys came out in the second half and really turned it around.
“I think Cal (McGregor) spoke well at half-time as well and the manager agreed that if we start well and get that first goal it changes the momentum of the game.
“But that game is gone now and we just need to focus on Sunday and where we want to go from the start.”
Forrest also pointed to Callum McGregor’s influence at half-time. The captain spoke in the dressing room when the team needed a steady voice after a poor first half at Ibrox.
His message was straightforward. If Celtic came out quickly after the break and got the next goal, the whole feel of the match could change.
That is exactly how it unfolded. Once Celtic scored, the noise inside the stadium shifted and Rangers started to sit deeper.
The equaliser arrived late to complete the comeback. Celtic now head back to Ibrox again with that second-half response still fresh in their minds.
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