1970-03-25: Celtic 1-2 Aberdeen, League Division 1

Match Pictures | Matches: 19691970 | 1969-70 Pictures

Trivia

  • A Wednesday night game. Aberdeen spoil the party at Parkhead. Celtic only needed a point to lift another title but blow it.
  • Jock Stein flew south on the Monday to watch the English Cup replay between Manchester Utd and Leeds Utd. They played out another draw.
  • John Clark's miserable season continued. Out with a groin injury for most of the season he played in the game against Ayr Utd Reserves and promptly picked up a serious knee injury.
  • Back in came Bobby Murdoch, Jimmy Johnstone and Bertie Auld. with Macari, Hood and Tommy Callaghan losing out.

Outside of football a crisis was looming at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders with the management saying that the unions would have to accept job cuts or there would be no jobs at all. The unions had so far resisted any cuts to the work force and a battle looked to be on the cards.

Review

Celtic ran up against a wall against Aberdeen at Celtic Park in a early run of the Scottish Cup Final. They were profligate in the first half and should have had the game wrapped up by half time. The Aberdeen defense gave the forwards little time on the ball despite Jinky having another good game out on the right, and were able to break fast when they had the use of the ball. Despite Celtic pressure it was goalless at half time.
In the second half Aberdeen played well and took the lead when George Murray hit a cracking shot. Their second was more worrying for the Celtic defense. A free kick was won in the air by Graham and he beat Williams with the header. Rarely was Billy McNeill beaten in the air in defense. In reply Tommy Gemmell pulled a goal back direct from a free kick just before the end – but this was a wake-up call for the Bhoys.

Teams

Celtic
Williams, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Brogan, Johnstone, Connelly, Wallace, Lennox, Auld. Substitute: Hay
Scorer Gemmell (88)

Aberdeen

Clark, Boel, G. Murray, S. Murray, McMillan, Buchan, McKay, Hermiston, Robb, Willoughby, Graham Sub Hamilton
Scorers G. Murray (50), Graham (65)

Referee: J.W. Paterson (Bothwell)
Attendance: 33,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

Celtic v Aberdeen, League, 25/3/70