| Matches: 1890 1891 | 1887-1900 | League Tables: 1890-91 | Forum |
Celtic Games 1891 – Hearts
Trivia
- Played on Celtic Park.
- Before 8,000 spectators.
- The interest in this match far exceeded the interest taken in the trials at Hampden.
Review
The Scotsman – Monday, 2nd March 1891, page 10
Celtic v Heart of Midlothian – Played on the Celtic Park. The interest in this match in Glasgow far exceeded the interest taken in the trials on Hampden. There was half a gale of wind and rain when the Hearts kicked off. The Celts were out in full strength, but the Hearts were minus Hill, Macpherson and Baird, their places being taken by Waterson, Stirling, and Ross. The Hearts pressed the Celts severely, and Taylor and Mason made rings round Maley, and gave McKeown and Bell plently to do. The pace was terrific for such heavy cut-up ground, and the Hearts with the assistance of the wind were doing all the pressing. Begbie held Campbell and Dunbar quite safe, and Adams and Goodfellow had little pressure on their powers. Do what they could the Hearts could not score. Half-time was called with neither side having anything to its credit. On resuming, contrary to expectations, the Hearts had much the best of the first five minutes’ play. The game was not nearly so fast now, though very determined, the first half seeming to have taken a lot out of the players. The Hearts through Taylor and Scott had several good attempts, and some time elapsed ere Celts got down on the Hearts goal, when after several narrow shaves Campbell put on the first point of the game amidst tremendous cheering. Notwithstanding this reverse the Hearts continued to play up in fine style, and the game was still evenly contested. Towards the close the Celts made strenuous efforts to score, but the Hearts’ defence was quite equal to the occasion, Fairbairn’s goal-keeping was superb. The call of time found the Celts victors by one goal to nil.
Teams
Celtic:-
Bell, Reynolds, McKeown, Gallagher, Kelly, W. Maley, Madden, Boyle, Dowds, Campbell, Dunbar.
Goal:- Campbell.
Hearts:-
Fairbairn, Adams, Goodfellow, Begbie, Waterston, Stirling, Taylor, Mason, Russell, Ross, Scott.
Stats
| Team | Played | Win | Lost | Drew | For | Ag | Pts |
| Dumbarton | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 10 | 20 |
| Rangers | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 19 | 16 |
| Cambuslang | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 29 | 28 | 10 |
| 3rd LRV | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 12 | 9 |
| Vale of Leven | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 37 | 7 |
| Hearts | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 18 | 7 |
| St Mirren | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 38 | 5 |
| Celtic | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 12 | 7** |
| Abercorn | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 21 | 36 | 3 |
| Cowlairs | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 14 | 2** |
| Renton* |
- *Renton were expelled from the Scottish Football Association on September 30th, and consequently their matches will lapse.
- **Four points were deducted from the Celtic and Cowlairs records for infringement of rules.