1936-01-04: Celtic 2-0 St Johnstone, League Division 1

Match Pictures | Matches: 19351936 | 1936 Pictures

Trivia

  • Celtic hit the woodwork three times before Frank Murphy scored in 44 minutes. In the second half Delaney was forced to retire hurt, but Celtic were awarded in penalty in 80 minutes and Willie Lyon converted to take the points. Jimmy Littlejohn defended well for the Saints.
  • Frost made conditions difficult in Scotland where the top three teams, Aberdeen, Rangers, and Celtic all won.
  • In England the top two clubs, Sunderland and Derby County both won their games but the biggest crowd of the day was at Middlesbrough where 55,000 saw them defeat Preston 2-0.
  • There was world-wide condemnation of the bombing by Italian planes of a Red Cross aid-station in Dolo, Abyssinia. Italy has widely used mustard gas bombs in Abyssinia.
  • Railwaymen in Britain have had their wages cut.

Review

Teams

CELTIC:
Foley, Hogg, Morrison, Paterson, Lyon, Hughes, Delaney, Buchan, McGrory, Crum, Murphy.
Scorers:
Murphy, Lyon.

SAINT JOHNSTONE:
Smith, Taylor, Clark, H Ferguson, Littlejohn, Dickie, Tennant, Adam, Beattie, McCall, Nicholson.

Referee: C. Hutton (Glasgow).
Attendance: 10,000.

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Monday, 6th January 1936, page 5

CELTIC'S HARD-WON SUCCESS

ST JOHNSTONE'S FIGHTING DISPLAY AT PARKHEAD

Celtic returned to winning form against St Johnstone at Parkhead, the home side gaining the decision by two goals to nothing.

The Perth team promised well, but were easily dispossessed at close quarters, McCall being the only forward with any idea of finishing. The visitors were the sweeter moving lot in the first half, when Tennant gave a splendid exhibition of wing play, but after Murphy scored the opening goal, they seemed to give up all hope, and faded out of the picture.

The winger's goal was the result of a lob from Paterson, Smith having no chance to save Murphy's shot. Prior to that, however, Celtic had had the mortification of seeing the crossbar come to the rescue of the visitors on three occasions.

The Saints treated the crowd to a bright spell of football on the resumption, but the home defenders stood firm, and the Celtic attack took a commanding hold of the play. Littlejohn was outstanding in the Perth rearguard, the big centre-half revelling in his work and keeping McGrory closely guarded. The visitors had their chances to score, but squandered many opportunities, Tennant being the chief sinner in that respect. H. Ferguson at right half gave a polished display and initiated attack after attack.

Midway through the second period, Delaney seemed to aggravate his leg injury and left the field. After being attended on the line, the winger was escorted to the pavilion, and did not resume. St Johnstone took a new lease of life, and hammered away at the Celtic goal, without however Foley being unduly troubled. Still, it looked as though the Perth side would manage to force a draw, so insistent was their pressure.

Twelve minutes from the finish Tennant missed his kick when left with an open goal, and as if to show their gratitude, Celtic bore down on Smith and Murphy was fouled when about to shoot. Lyon scored from the resultant penalty kick, and from then until the end it was all Celtic.

The home defence was sound with Lyon outstanding. McGrory was subdued, although it must be stated in fairness to the centre that he played with a badly swollen face the result of an injury sustained against Rangers—and only headed the ball twice. Defence was the visitors best department. Littlejohn was the dominating personality.

The attendance was 10,000.
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Celtic v St Johnstone Jan 1936