Hell hath no fury like Chris Forrester scorned. Spectacular goals come naturally to the 29-year-old and on this particular European night motivation came from a sense of “arrogance” that the Slovenian visitors brought to Richmond Park.
It was nothing that the NS Mura players said or did; more how they were moping about the antiquated ground as 2,696 souls crammed into two sides of Inchicore.
“All I kept hearing was they beat Tottenham so I was thinking what are we going to be up against here,” said Forrester, following Thursday’s 1-1 draw in the Europa Conference League second round qualifier, first leg. “But then you do your video [work], we had a lot of info on them and their individual players.
“I was only saying in the changing room that you step back too much and all of a sudden you’re one or two-nil down and it’s ‘these aren’t even that good.’
“So I think we treated the game with respect but I don’t think they treated us with the respect that we deserve. You know, looking at them before the game, I think they just thought it was going to be a jolly up. And they got what they deserved, a good game off us.
“Yeah, you can big them up in your own head, but once you cross the line, it’s 90 minutes of football and it’s anybody’s on the day.”
Quotes like these are all but extinct in modern sport. Did something happen pre-match?
“There was just a sense off them,” Forrester calmly explained. “They had that bit of arrogance when they walked in. There were a couple of them standing on the pitch as if they were above it. Clearly they weren’t.”
The League of Ireland is so clearly a sellers market, with the best young talent lured away midseason at an alarming rate by English third tier clubs, but in Forrester St Pat’s have a rare species – a dribbling midfielder who joined Peterborough United at 22 but returned inside four seasons to live out his peak football years in Dublin.
The pay off for domestic fans comes weekly, but particularly last November’s FAI Cup final when he twisted and turned the Bohemians defence before stroking home an unforgettable goal, and on Thursday night there was another beautiful finish to drag St Pat’s level.
But there was also the one that got away.
[ Chris Forrester inspires revival as St Patrick’s Athletic keep the tie aliveOpens in new window ]
“He’s a genius and this was almost perfect,” tweeted St Pat’s official account after Forrester’s left foot screamer was almost followed up with an 84th minute winner.
The goal that never will be included a magic turn and nutmeg before Nura goalkeeper Matko Obradovic blocked his low shot.
“I was only saying on the car drive in with my girlfriend that I’ve never scored in Europe… So I wanted to go out and do myself justice, I’m in good confidence and I’m going out on the pitch, I’m happy. I’m enjoying it. And obviously getting to represent Pat’s is such an honour for me. Any time I take the pitch, I’ll do my best.”
Remembering the Cup final strike and his right foot rainbow volley from 42 metres against Drogheda in 2014, the wonder is where the latest finish ranks in Forrester’s book of goals.
“It’s the best one because I haven’t scored in a long time. I’m just happy to get back on the score sheet again. I’ve only one goal this season. For me, that’s just not good enough. I scored a few last year and I wanted to continue that this year, I’ve had a fair few chances but I’m just happy to hit the net. In terms of ranking it, I’m just happy it went in.”
St Pat’s must travel by chartered plane to eastern Slovenia ahead of next Thursday’s second leg without Mark Doyle, after the attacking midfielder was red card following an injury-time clash with Klemen Pucko.
“I’m not too sure it was as red card but he seems a bit upset,” said Forrester. “It was probably harsh. I think it was just a collision. I’m not sure of the details so I can’t say a thing but I’m obviously gutted for him. He had a great game tonight.”
St Pat’s manager Tim Clancy echoed his midfielder when noting that the Slovenians might have seen Pats as a “easy touch.”
“They probably watched our league games and obviously saw us not get the results or performances in some of the games they watched,” said Clancy. “I don’t know. It is how they approached it. I think they will probably have a different outlook now going into the second leg.”
Battle lines have been drawn.
