Match Pictures | Matches: 1978 - 1979 | 1978-79 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic now in second place five points behind Dundee United but with five games in hand.
• Vic Davidson failed a fitness test.

Review

Frantic stuff, with five players booked, several warned, and World Cup right-back Danny McGrain booting the ball over the stand in the final seconds. When the dust settled and the passion cooled, United's dream of the championship hung by a thread - and a gey slender one at that.

Celtic, roared on by a 37,000 crowd, came back from losing a goal two minutes from the interval with the kind of grit and determination that wins cups. On this occasion the prize was two vital points, which now makes the Parkhead team favourites for the title. Not a pretty game but on a dry ground with little turf and a breeze, the ball was too frisky for any polish in the play. United had a slight edge in the way they used the ball in the first half, and it was skillful play from Paul Sturrock that eventually set up the opening goal for Davie Dodds. Derek Addison worked the ball down the left and released it to the roving Sturrock. He cleverly took on Edvaldsson, turned him the wrong way outside the box, and sent the ball high over. With the defenders caught in a straight line, Dodds rose and headed the ball past Latchford.

It was always a niggly match. The signs were there early on, when Celtic's MacLeod was booked for back-chat. Five minutes after the interval Sturrock and Aitken were booked for having differing views on a tackle by the Celt.

Then came the equaliser. Keeper McAlpine, who had hardly had a save, didn't look clever in the 58th minute. A Lynch free was headed into the goalmouth by Aitken. McAlpine attempted to punch the ball, missed, and Doyle got a touch with his head to put it over the line.

My how the Celtic has come to life. Sheer pressure got Celtic a penalty in the 68th minute when Stark desperately attempted to stop Doyle on the edge of the box, after Hegarty had been beaten. Doyle went down in the tackle. Referee Davie Ramsey, now struggling to control events, pointed to the spot and Lynch smashed the ball low past McAlpine.

There was no way Celtic would lose a point after that.

Teams

Celtic:- (4-3-3)
Latchford, McGrain, Edvaldsson, Aitken, Lynch, Conroy, Burns, MacLeod, Provan, G McCluskey, Doyle.
Subs not used:- Lennox. McAdam.
Goals:- Doyle 58, Lynch 68 pen.
Booked:- MacLeod, Aitken.


Dundee Utd:- (4-3-3)
McAlpine, Stewart, Hegarty, Narey, Stark, Addison, Fleming, Hall, Kirkwood (Payne 72), Sturrock (Kopel 78), Dodds.
Subs:-
Goal:- Dodds 43.
Booked:- Sturrock

Att:- 37,000.
Ref:- D. Ramsey (Edinburgh).

Articles

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Pictures

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