1951-12-08: Celtic 2-1 St Mirren, League Division A

Match Pictures | Matches: 19511952 | 1951-52 Pictures

Trivia

  • Jock Stein was signed from Llanelli for £7000. Stein had previously led Albion Rovers but had headed to Wales. Llanelli after pushing for an attempt to get into the English Leagues were running out of money and happy to release Stein. The club were so embarrassed by the amount of the transfer that they asked Llanelli to keep the amount quiet. He went straight into the team when he was expecting to bring along the youngsters in the Reserves for a while.
  • Lafferty moved into his chosen position at centre forward. McPhail was reinstated but out as left wing with Tully still suspended. Boden was out with a sore back.

Review

The game was played in continuous rain. Bell saved well from Gemmell than Celtic had a spell of continuous pressure on the Buddies goal when McPhail, Lafferty and Peacock were all denied. McPhail made the opening goal beating his man and sending in a cross to Collins who made to shoot but passed to Lafferty who sent the ball through a maze of black and white shirts to score. Fallon headed out from under the crossbar to save a Saints equaliser before half time. Walsh went on a grand run 2 minutes from time before slipping the ball to Lafferty who put it away for the second goal. Anderson was then helped from the field with a shoulder injury. Gemmell was the best player for St Mirren and he got his reward when Rice totally outfoxed Baillie and Rollo to send in a cross which Gemmell drilled into the goal.

Teams

Celtic:
Bell; Fallon, Rollo; Evans, Stein, Baillie; Collins, Walsh, Lafferty, Peacock, McPhail.
Scorers: Lafferty 2 (22, 42)

St Mirren:

Lynch; Lapsley, Drinkwater; Neilson, Telfer, Reid; Rice, Anderson, Stewart, Gemmell, Blyth.
Scorer: Gemmell (70)

Referee: D Gerrard (Aberdeen)
Attendance: 20,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

  • Match Pictures

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