---
title: "Celtic: Fans did not agree with James Forrest being played on the left wing against St Mirren"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-fans-did-not-agree-with-james-forrest-being-played-on-the-left-wing-against-st-mirren/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2019-12-27T12:40:11Z"
modified: "2019-12-27T12:40:11Z"
---

# Celtic: Fans did not agree with James Forrest being played on the left wing against St Mirren

**Celtic manager Neil Lennon came in for questioning from a lot of the club’s supporters over one particular decision on Boxing Day.**

The Hoops’ official Twitter channel [@CelticFC](https://twitter.com/celticfc/status/1210195106814402561?s=21) shared the starting line-up for the game against St Mirren just under 75 minutes before kick-off, with many correctly inferring that James Forrest would [start on the left-hand side of an attacking midfield three](https://www.skysports.com/football/st-mirren-vs-celtic/teams/411339).

https://twitter.com/celticfc/status/1210195106814402561?s=21

The 28-year-old is [primarily a right midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-forrest/leistungsdaten/spieler/84992) but has now played on the left [in Celtic’s last four matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-forrest/leistungsdaten/spieler/84992), with [regular left winger](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mohamed-elyounoussi/leistungsdaten/spieler/186644) Mohamed Elyounoussi [still injured](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5105063/celtic-rangers-mo-elyounoussi-hatem-abd-elhamed/) and Mikey Johnston [among the substitutes](https://www.skysports.com/football/st-mirren-vs-celtic/teams/411339).

Lennon’s decision to stick with Forrest on the left may have met with plenty of disagreement before the match but the call would be vindicated as the Scotland international scored what ultimately proved to be the winning goal in a 2-1 victory, taking the ball around St Mirren goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky before dispatching to the net in the 32nd minute. \[[via Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/st-mirren-vs-celtic/report/411339)\]

John Reid of [67hailhail.com](https://www.67hailhail.com/match/celtic-player-ratings-vs-st-mirren-away/) said it was Forrest’s “best Celtic performance in a few weeks”, while Mark Hendry of [Herald Scotland](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18123796.st-mirren-1-2-celtic-hoops-players-rated-paisley-win-ahead-rangers-clash/) wrote that he “always caused trouble for the home side” in Paisley.

His goal-scoring display was the ideal riposte to these pre-match lamentations from some Hoops fans about his starting position:

> Forrest and Christie out of position again.\
> This type of stubbornness from Lennon was exactly why nobody cared when he left first time round.
>
> — CiaranBolingoli (@Cjbradley86) [December 26, 2019](https://twitter.com/Cjbradley86/status/1210198124909735936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Forrest on the left and Christie on the right doesn’t do either of them any favours please stop it [@neil](https://twitter.com/neil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — michael. ⛵️ (@VLR) [December 26, 2019](https://twitter.com/VLR/status/1210196717423022080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Stop playing Forrest on the left 👏
>
> — Aidan (@AMc88\_) [December 26, 2019](https://twitter.com/AMc88_/status/1210196255026110464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Forrest at LM again 😫
>
> — CelticFC News (@celtic\_\_news88) [December 26, 2019](https://twitter.com/celtic__news88/status/1210195271461810177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> stop playin forest on the left😠😠😠
>
> — olivia💚 (@oliviaaaaaaaaax) [December 26, 2019](https://twitter.com/oliviaaaaaaaaax/status/1210198801090265090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Lenny’s stubbornness shining through once again Forrest on the left and Christie wasted on this right and he doesn’t even explain total arrogance imo
>
> — daniel cummings (@dannycummings67) [December 26, 2019](https://twitter.com/dannycummings67/status/1210209051176554497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Do you think Lennon was correct to stick with Forrest on the left given that he scored against St Mirren? Have your say by commenting below!***