LAST UPDATE | 28 Apr

JAMES FORREST HIT a double on his first start for five months as Celtic maintained their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-1 victory at Dundee.

Forrest was drafted in for only his fourth start of the season after coming off the bench to net in last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen.

Such was Forrest’s influence at Hampden that manager Brendan Rodgers admitted he might have underused the 32-year-old this season.

And his feeling could only have grown as the winger stole the show at Dens Park to take his season tally to six goals.

Forrest volleyed home a powerful strike from 18 yards on the half-hour mark and started and finished the move that doubled the lead midway through the second half.

The victory swiftly restored Celtic’s three-point lead following Rangers’ 2-1 win at St Mirren in the early kick-off, although their goal difference advantage stayed at five after Adam Idah -introduced as a substitute – sliced the ball into his own net as he tried to clear Antonio Portales’ shot.

Rangers had drawn level earlier in the day after Cyriel Dessers gave them a 2-1 win at St Mirren.

The Ibrox side, who were without a league win in three matches, were ahead in the 32nd minute when St Mirren defender James Bolton put the ball into his own net attempting a goalline clearance.

Home striker Mikael Mandron deservedly levelled with a well-placed header five minutes later and the second half was a struggle for the visitors before Dessers popped up with a powerful header in the 74th minute to seal the points.

– © AFP 2024, with reporting by Press Association