Celtic’s Fraser Forster can avenge 2011 final against Rangers

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Today’s Betfred Cup final will see a team of Celtic players who only really know success against Rangers.

For Fraser Forster, however, he must be keen to finally end a seven-year demon at Hampden Park this afternoon.

Back in 2011, Celtic lost out to Rangers in the CIS Cup final. The 2-1 defeat at Hampden was a heartbreaking day for Neil Lennon’s Hoops, with plenty of frustration post-match for everyone.

Pretty much the entire starting XI since then has, unsurprisingly, moved on. However, Forster is one of just two survivors from that day, with Scott Brown the other.

Big Fraser only rejoined the club in the summer, therefore he hasn’t had the fun against Rangers in recent times that Brown has had. Celtic’s mercurial captain has managed to knock Rangers out of cups at Hampden on more than one occasion since that day eight years ago. Therefore, there aren’t any demons for the captain to bury this afternoon.

Forster hasn’t tasted Hampden revenge against Rangers

Make no mistake, success has hardly evaded Forster in this fixture. He was in the nets during the infamous 1-0 Scottish Cup game at Parkhead. He was there for the last ever derby before Rangers’ liquidation when we mauled them 3-0 too. Indeed, Forster has had his moments in the derby.

However, when it comes to beating Rangers at Hampden, especially in a final, Forster has a point to prove today. That loss was his last cup match against the Ibrox side.

Ironically, he actually had one of the best moments of the cup final back in 2011. His wonder-save from a Nikica Jelavic free-kick was sublime, and you would bank on him producing similar heroics today if necessary.

Forster was in goal during the 2-0 win at Ibrox back in September too. Yet, incredibly, he went unworked throughout the contest thanks to the domination of Christopher Jullien and Nir Bitton in front of him. They restricted Jermain Defoe to barely a sight of goal, and Alfredo Morelos got just as little joy when he came on.

Everyone in the Celtic team today should be motivated for a repeat of that Ibrox success. There are 100 reasons for that too. Be it to reach 10 trophies in-a-row, to slap down Steven Gerrard from winning his first trophy, or to simply build momentum for the rest of the season.

Forster, however, must be more focused and motivated than anyone. He still has that 2011 haunting to put to rest today. Hopefully, come full-time, he’s managed to do just that.