Since returning to Celtic at the end of August Fraser Forster has faced three penalties.
Against Hearts he blocked Conor Washington’s effort but lost out to the rebound, M’Baye Niang netted for Rennes then on Sunday the on-loan keeper pushed Alan Power’s spot kick round the post.
Those details demolish the myth that ‘wee teams’ don’t get penalties against Celtic with the hoops still to be awarded their first domestic penalty despite rattling in more than three goals per match in the SPFL.
Throughout his career Forster has saved 13 of the 34 penalties that he has faced with the 31-year-old providing the Celtic defence with a welcome additional barrier.
“The penalty stat is nice but I need to get it up a bit!” the keeper told The Sun. “There’s not really a secret to it, we just work hard on them in training and I go with my gut feeling. Experience is huge. The more you face, the more you know what to expect in that situation.”
After making just one top team appearance last season Forster has already played five matches for Celtic with Eamonn Brophy the only player to have beaten him from open play.
Having signed four times for Neil Lennon there is a definite bond between manager and player with the on-loan Southampton stopper keen to add to his three title winning medals picked up before his move south in 2014.
