1983-09-10: Celtic 5-2 St Johnstone, Premier League

Match Pictures | Matches: 19831984 | 1983-84 Pictures

Trivia

  • Hearts beat Rangers 3-1 at Tynecastle.

Review

The scoring continued in this match after the five in midweek. Again Celtic came from being a goal down and eventually went in as 5-2 winners over newly promoted St Johnstone. Melrose, Burns and McGarvey got the goals but the man who emerged as the hero of the Celtic fans was Frank McGarvey.
McGarvey left the field to allow McClair a bit more match practice before the European test. The ovation he was given could not have been bettered.
McGarvey has always been popular with the Celtic support. He scores goals, but perhaps as important, is the work he does for others. He is an unselfish team professional. His running off the ball often creates space for those around him and his work on the ball an unpredictable style make him very unpopular with defences.

Teams

Celtic:-
Bonner, McGrain, Reid, Aitken, W McStay, MacLeod, Provan (Crainie), P McStay, McGarvey (McClair), Burns, Melrose.
Goals:- Morton og 31, Melrose 37, Burns 42, McGarvey 52, Burns 80.

St Johnstone:-
McDonald Kilgour McVicar Addison Caldwell Rutherford Gibson Brogan Blair (Pelosi) Morton Beedie Sub: Brannigan
Goals:- Brogan 9, Brogan 82.

Att:- 11,161
Ref:

Articles

  • Match Report (See Below)

Pictures

Articles

Match Report

Celtic scored five goals for the second time in a week, but some of the credit for making this a tremendously entertaining match, must go to the Premier League new boys, St Johnstone.
Not only did they open the scoring with a John Brogan goal, but for long spells during the first half they took charge of the game and kept the crowd entertained with some flowing football.
Once Celtic hit the scoring trail, however, there seemed no hope for the visitors. The equaliser came in a very unfortunate fashion when Jim Morton attempted to put the ball out for a corner only to see it going into the net.
Six minutes later, in the 37th minute, Celtic took the lead. Paul McStay pushed the ball wide and Davie Provan sent in a cross which was met and pushed home by Melrose.
Before half-time Celtic had increased their lead to 3-1. Danny McGrain mastered the move this time and his eventual cross was headed home by Burns.
Minutes earlier Tommy Burns had come close when he collected a pass inside the box from McGarvey, who worked wonders to move past the Saints’ defence and into the box.
Seven minutes after the restart Celtic went further ahead. McGarvey did all the work again then collected a return pass from Provan before shooting home.
Tommy Burns took the total to 5-1 with another header, this time from a McClair cross in the 80th minute.
A minute later Brogan scored again, but by this time the points were beyond doubt.5-2 St Johnstone  83