1954-10-09: Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic, League Division A

Match Pictures | Matches: 19541955 | 1954-55 pictures

Trivia

  • Pittodrie packed for the visit of Celtic in 1954, Celtic won there for the first time in 12 years that day in front of 38,0000
  • Bertie Peacock was back in the side after playing for Ireland in a 2-0 loss to England in Belfast. Mike Conroy made way. Charlie Tully was again fit and took his place this time at inside right as opposed to his more usual left sided position with Alec Boden dropping out.
  • Aberdeen were top of the League early doors and playing good football having conceded only two goals in four games. This was considered the match of the day even though the league Cup semi finals were also on this day.
  • Celtic travelled up to Aberdeen on the day of the match forsaking the usual overnight stay on Friday night stating that the hotels were invariably noisy and teams performed poorly afterwards.
  • Rain fell steadily from one hour before kick off and right through the game – well it was Aberdeen!

Review

A game worthy of two teams at the top of the League. Evans and Peacock were in dominating form. Aberdeen's forwards never really got going against a rugged Celtic defense. Fernie was in a dazzling mood. Together with Higgins they constantly teased and annoyed the Aberdeen defense. Walsh and Mochan also combined well and then there was the genius of Tully back in the team and missed for his individuality and skill. The first half despite some brilliant football was goal less. The second half had Bonnar busy at the start before Mochan scored a classic Smiler piledriver after picking up a Higgins corner and beating two Aberdeen defenders. Mochan had the ball over the line on 65 minutes but both the referee and linesman failed to see it that way. Haughney was pulled down in the area by Young and he scored himself from the resulting penalty. In a somewhat amusing incident later in the game Stein grabbed Buckley's shorts as he went past him with the shorts ending up around the Aberdeen forwards feet in tatters with a section left on the 18 yard line, much to amusement of the crowd. Nothing came of the free kick awarded for the foul.
Celtic were deserving winners and their forwards were infinitely better.

Teams

Aberdeen:
Martin; Mitchell, Smith; Wallace, Young, Glen; Leggat, Yorston, Buckley, O'Neill, Hather.
Scorers:

Celtic:
Bonnar; Haughney, Fallon; Evans, Stein, Peacock; Higgins, Tully, Walsh, Fernie, Mochan.
Scorers: Mochan (57), Haughney (pen, 71)

Referee: J B Barclay (Kirkaldy)
Attendance: 38,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

Glasgow Herald 11/10/54

Aberdeen v Celtic, League, 1954, Glasgow herald 11/10/54