1983-04-20: Celtic 2-3 Dundee United, Premier Division

Match Pictures | Matches: 19821983 | 1982-83 Pictures

Trivia

  • This was the night that Celtic lost their grip on the title.
  • Ten man Dundee Utd pulled off a shock result that ultimately set them up for the title.
  • Celtic had come from behind twice, but lost it with six minutes of normal time remaining.
  • Future Rangers captain Richard Gough was sent off.
  • Graeme Sinclair was detained overnight with concussion after a clash of heads with Eamonn Bannon.
  • ECWC: Aberdeen lose 1-0 in Belgium to Waterschei in Belgium but go through to the ECWC final on a 5-2 aggregate.
  • Celtic announce they will play Finn Harps in Donegal in May.

Review

This was the night that Celtic lost their grip on the title.

Sinclair was at right back in place of the suspended McGrain and when he was injured and taken off it meant MacLeod taking over at right back. Without MacLeod's energy the Celtic midfield struggled.

The game was at 2-2 with only six minutes remaining when United broke clear to score through Milne. This was a hammer blow and United were now in with a great chance of winning the league.
(From BBC 2020)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50700041
Each of those games, including three consecutive 4-0 wins ahead of the decider, were vital but one in particular stands out: having lost at Celtic Park in April, United returned to Glasgow and secured a 3-2 victory, despite the dismissal of Richard Gough. "That was the turning point, a real game-changer because it put us a point ahead having been written off ," says Bannon. "All of a sudden we had our noses in front and we kept winning from there on in."
For all that he recognises its importance, Bannon's recall of the game is sketchy. "I remember the pitch being like a beach, big Goughie getting sent off and Ralph scoring a great goal but beyond that… did we get a penalty?" They did. And he scored it, adding to Hegarty's opener before another virtuoso effort by Milne, who took a cross on his chest and lashed a 25-yard volley past Pat Bonner.

Teams

Celtic:
Bonner Sinclair (McCluskey) Reid Aitken McAdam MacLeod Provan P McStay Nicholas Burns McGarvey
Sub: Crainie
Scorers: Nicholas 38 pen, Burns 73

Dundee Utd:
McAlpine Stark Malpas Gough Hegarty Narey Bannon Milne Holt Sturrock Dodds
Subs: Britton Reilly
Scorers:Hegarty 14 Bannon 52 pen, Milne 84

Ref: David Syme
Attendance: 23,965

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Day we blew the League 83
1983-04-20: Celtic 2-3 Dundee United, Premier Division - The Celtic Wiki