| Match Pictures | Matches: 1980 – 1981 | 1980-81 Pictures |
Trivia
- Mark Reid made his Celtic debut.
- Hundreds of Celtic fans missed the game when a football special train broke down en route to Dundee.
Review
Billy McNeill made big changes after the recent defeats to Rangers and Aberdeen. 18 years old Mark Reid was called in at left back for his debut in place of Alan Sneddon and another youngster, John Weir, came into the midfield in place of Dom Sullivan. The recognised strikeforce of McGarvey and Nicholas were dropped in place of Johnny Doyle and George McCluskey.
Celtic were outplayed for most of the match and in 23 minutes United's more varied attacking strategy paid off. Sturrock got to the bye line and cut the ball back, Pat Bonner could not hold it and Willie Pettigrew clevely chipped the ball across goal to Bannon who volleyed home.
Celtic came back into it in the second half when McGarvey and Nicholas replaced the ineffective Doyle and McCluskey. In 80 minutes Philip had a miraculous clearance off the line from a Nicholas shot following a Burns cross. Two minutes later and Philip was the villain when he knocked a cross into the path of Nicholas who smacked the ball in off Stark's despairing legs.
Celtic were now considered favourites to win the second leg in Glasgow.
Teams
Dundee United:- McAlpine, Stark, Kopel, Philip, Hegarty, Narey, Bannon, Kirkwood, Pettigrew, Sturrock, Dodds Subs: PayneWard
Goal:- Bannon 23.
Celtic:-Bonner, McGrain, Reid, Aitken, MacDonald, McAdam, Provan, Weir, McCluskey (McGarvey), Burns, Doyle (Nicholas).
Goal:- Nicholas 82.
Ref:-
Att:- 14,000.
Articles
- Match Report
- Manager Interview
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