1974-12-21: Celtic 3-1 St Johnstone, League Division 1

Match Pictures | Matches: 19741975 | 1974-1975 Pictures

Trivia

  • Deans was back fit again and in training but needed to sharpen up with match practise as was always the want of Jock Stein for players coming back from injury. Brogan was fit as well. Jimmy Johnstone and George Connelly had been undertaking extra training in the period when the players were given time off. The only doubt was Ronnie Glavin who had picked up a cut on his shin which had required 4 stitches, in the previous game against Dundee. Ronnie wasn't risked and Harry Hood came in with Lennox and Brogan on the bench.
  • Pat McCluskey was in the Scotland U-23 team to face England U-23s in Aberdeen. Scotland lost 3-0.
  • Bobby Thomson of Saint Johnstone is sent off.
  • On the same day Celtic Reserves beat St Johnstone Reserves 3-2 at Muirton. The Celtic scorers were Bone, Deans and Ritchie. The Celtic team was Barclay, McNamara, McAleer, McLaughlin, McDonald, Welsh, Ritchie, Bone, Deans, Davidson, Lynch Subs Mulholland, and Thomson
  • Dixie Deans third goal in the 6-3 League Cup Final win over Hibernian is voted Goal of the Year by the Evening Times

Review

This was a struggle for Celtic and it took a beautifully flighted Dalglish free kick into the top corner to put them in front.
They lost the first goal after just seven minutes when Jim O'Rourke was put through and hit a good shot past Hunter. The equaliser came from the spot after Danny McGrain was pulled down in the area and McCluskey made no mistake from the spot.
It remained even at one apiece at half time.
On 54 minutes McCluskey was booked and Thomson sent off after a ruck when McCluskey fouled Thomson. Thomson lamped him in return and paid the price.
The sending off unsettled St J and three minutes later Celtic were ahead from Dalglish's free kick.
There followed a tense period of close football with St J fighting back with 10 men. It wasn't settled till 5 minutes from the end when Murray headed home a Harry Hood cross which limped between the defenders legs and over the line.

Teams

Celtic
Hunter, McGrain, McCluskey, Murray, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Hood, Dalglish (Lennox), Callaghan, Wilson. Sub: Brogan
Scorers McCluskey (pen 25), Dalglish (57), Murray (85)

St Johnstone

Robertson, Smith, Arge, Rennie, McDonald, Kinnell, Muir, O'Rourke, Thomson, Crammond, Lambie. Subs Hotson, Ritchie
Scorer O'Rourke (7)

Referee: C Hutton (Dunfermiline)
Attendance: 20,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

Celtic v St Johnstone, League, 21/12/74