| Match Pictures | Matches: 1938 – 1939 | 1939 Pictures |
Trivia
- Before a big crowd at Parkhead, brave Joe Kennaway of Celtic and Hearts' centre-half James Dykes defend their areas well, but Jimmy Delaney is Man-of-the-Match.
- Fans travelling to Parkhead are among the 35 injured and one dead in a two-train collision at Stobcross Junction Glasgow.
- Many fans are resigned to another replay and on the way out they miss Divers's late winning goal at the end of extra-time.
- A simultaneous move by Britain and France to recognise General Franco's Govermnent is expected next week.
Review
Teams
CELTIC:
Kennaway, Hogg, Morrison, Lynch, Lyon, Paterson, Delaney, MacDonald, Crum, Divers, Murphy.
Scorers:
Divers, (2).
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN:
Waugh, Anderson, McClure, Robson, Dykes, Brown, Briscoe, Walker, Garrett, Black, Warren.
Scorers:
Warren.
Referee: P. Craigmyle (Aberdeen).
Attendance: 80,840
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Link
Articles
The Scotsman – Thursday, 23rd February 1939, page 17
HEARTS OUT OF SCOTTISH CUP
DISPUTED GOAL GIVES CELTIC THE DECISION IN REPLAY
UNSATISFACTORY FIMSH TO THRILLING TIE
The Scottish Cup third round tie between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian ended in this replay at Celtic Park yesterday on as dramatic a note as it started at Tynecastle on Saturday. Celtic preserving their traditions of winning by a hotly disputed goal score five minutes from the finish of extra-time.
Celtic were on top in the closing stages, and were hammering hard upon the Hearts' goal when they forced a corner kick. Divers and. Delaney jumped into the crowded goalmouth to meet the ball, and in the subsequent jostling Divers reached it with his body and touched it just towards the inside of the post. Waugh, the goalkeeper, appeared to be too late in going down for the ball, but he managed to scoop it away, and McCIure kicked clear. Amidst the jubilation of the Celtic players, and to the obvious dismay of the Hearts' defenders, referee Craigmyle raced off to the centre spot.
A record crowd of over 80,000 people were so surprised that there was little cheering, but the game ended in an uproar. Hearts maintained their protest that the ball was never over the goal-line, and the referee consulted a linesman before repeating his verdict.
HEARTS' LOST CHANCES
So a very remarkable tie had an unsatisfactory finish, although it will be admitted on all sides that Celtic maintained their reputation for spirited Cup football. Hearts were outplayed towards the finish, and their protest was costly so far as time was concerned.
Tommy Walker alone accepted the decision of the referee, and was standing, a lone figure, at the centre spot with the ball, eager to kick off and make the most of the fleeting minutes.
But Hearts really lost their chances in the first half. Once again their forwards were on top of the Celtic half-backs, and alertness in front of goal would have given them a more comfortable lead than that obtained when Warren, then an outstanding player, scored in half an hour.
Thereafter they lost their smartness, and Celtic proved to be quicker on the ball. Four minutes from the interval, during a period when the best football of the day was seen Divers equalised following a movement started by Crum. Then followed a long and hard fight, with Celtic improving in their passing, and Hearts apparently tiring if one were to judge from their unreadiness to tackle.
Warren's goal, by the way, was another reward for his astute positional play. His clever anticipation was very marked throughout the first half, and he was on the right spot when the ball broke clear, after Garrett had been outnumbered, to shoot strongly past Kennaway.
DELANEY THE MATCH-WINNNER
Divers, whose late goal saved the football public from spending another £5000 on Monday, took his first point very well. The covering by Hearts' defenders was very loose at this stage, and a probing pass by Delaney saw Crum in a position to turn the ball towards goal. Divers raced on unchallenged to score at a time when a goal was scarcely deserved.
Divers's two goals made him the Parkhead hero, but the real match-winner was Delaney, a positive terror to the Tynecastle defenders, while Lyon was a sheet anchor in defence.
Delaney's clever ball control and speedy thrusts on goal were continually upsetting Hearts, and even dragging half-backs and forwards out of position. His tearaway methods in the goal area were often somewhat reckless, but they had tremendous effect upon both sides, inspiring to his own, and unnerving to Hearts, who feared his every move.
Delaney was an even greater influence upon the game than Warren, and he had a better service, McDonald proving the most successful schemer of the day. Actually, Divers was very subdued, as was his wing partner, Murphy, who was very well held by Anderson.
LYON HOLDS GARRETT
Celtic's strength in the rear depended upon the reliability of Lyon, who reversed the result of his bouts with Garrett on Saturday. In their first meeting, when Garrett was seen by at least four Scottish international selectors, the centre must have played himself into a position of being a possible for the big match at Hampden. Yesterday Lyon dissipated his prospects with splendid covering Work.
Lyon's display was all the more meritorious, because the men on either side of him, Paterson and Lynch, were a long time in settling to successful tackling and profitable passing. Kennaway also did well, if only because of a brilliant save from Black late in the second half.
Black and Walker were gradually gripped and held in subjection after a bright start. The pity was that Walker got such a poor response from his winger, Briscoe, who was the weak link in the Tynecastle attack.
The half-backs did well at one time or another, although in no case all the time. Dykes' height and perfect timing of the ball were invaluable, and Robson was careful and very steady, as well as hard-working.
Brown was the brightest and most enterprising halfback on view, although he appeared to lack strength in some of the later passages. At full back Anderson was in excellent trim, both dour in tackling and stylish in kicking. McCIure, however, had not the same opportunities to shine as on Saturday. Delaney was a perpetual problem for the left-back.
Man for man, Hearts, as is so often the case, were the better equipped side but never reached any heights in teamwork. They had not the ability to press home their advantages to the stage of disorganising their opponents. Celtic, on the other hand, persevered with their plans until they were practically perfect.
They also rose to the occasion with great spirit, and preserved their wonderful record of never having lost a replay under present football conditions.
The attendance of 80,840 was a record for a mid-week match in Britain, excepting Scottish Cup final replays and Glasgow New Year holiday matches.
The drawings were £3368 6s 8d, excluding stand and tax. The record attendance at Parkhead is 92,000 at a New Year's Day match with Rangers, but the authorities deemed it wise to close the gates before the start, and there were few untoward, incidents.
Some thousands of people were turned away, including late arrivals from Edinburgh, which contributed fully 10,000 to the crowd.
