| Match Pictures | Matches: 1951 – 1952 | 1951-52 Pictures |
Trivia
- Played at Firhill.
- Ex-Celtic keeper Willie Miller in goal for Clyde. Clyde had only just been relegated from Division A.
Review
Considered to be one of the matches of the tournament with Celtic coming back from two goals down to draw with the Division B side. A tremendous game by all reports.
Clyde led 2-0 at half time having sustained heavy Celtic pressure, both goals being scored by Alec Linwood. Celtic scored two goals immediately in the second half to bring the gamew level. Wiuth eight minutes of the game remaining Clyde were leading 4-2 but an overweight John McPhail headed home a cross from Joe Baillie to make it 4-3. In trying to stop the goal Willie Miller required lengthy treatment after colliding with the goal post. Bobby Collins then put Celtic level with a header five minutes from time.
Teams
Celtic:
Hunter; Fallon, Rollo; Evans, Mallan, Baillie; Collins, Walsh, J.McPhail, Peacock, Tully
Scorers: Walsh (51), Collins 2 (pen 54, 85), J McPhail (82)
Clyde:
Miller; Lindsay, Haddock; Campbell, Somerville, Long; Buchanan, Friel, Linwood, Robertson, Ring.
Scorers: Linwood 2 (11, 45), Ring (63), Robertson (?)
Referee: W J Brown (Bellshill)
Attendance: 29,000
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
Articles
Match of Many Thrills – Glasgow Herald, Friday July 20th, 1951
By Our Football Correspondent
In the interests of those who will attend the second round replay in the St Mungo Cup competition between Celtic and Clyde at Firhill Park tonight one is duty bound to hope that the match will be a repetition of the match played last night on the Queen's Cross ground but on second thoughts it will not be to ultimate adfvantage of those who attend a second time to again experience such undiluted excitement.I cannot recall a football match that caused such undiluted furore; if there were minutes in which there were not thrills I must have missed them in the act of trying to record those that immediately preceded.
If there is not another satisfactory game in the Festival of Britain tournament it will have been proved worthwhile by last night's display. In the history of Clyde, often in the doldrums, there can be no more praiseworthy feat than their latest draw with Celtic, and so far as Celtic are concerned no wearers of the green and white have ever rallied so magnificently.
Clyde hearts must have been in their mouths when the holders of the Scottish Cup began with swift progressive football that threatened to drive their opponents into the ground if not out of it.Evans and Baillie, true to their reputation, were monarchs of all they surveyed in midfield; Tully lead with all his aces, and Collins of the mighty shot thundered the ball over and past Miller's gaol. Clyde after all were a B Divisdion side and it would be no disgrace in them to be beaten by such a combination of skill, speed and power.
Linwood's Goal
Clyde's defence survived however and in the 11th minute, Linwood struck as he has so often done in the past, with just the fraction of a chance. Campbell took a free kick just inside the Celtic half and the centre forward, beating Mallan and Fallon in the jump, glanced the ball exquisitely into the corner of the net where Hunter was not. And now it was a new Clyde, an A Division team once again. The effect of the goal upon Celtic was astonishing; gone were the smooth passing and the free manipulation of the ball and instead there was panic and on at least one occasion, passion. For the remainder of the half Clyde were superior in the arts and craft of the game and just on half time they drove the Celtic supporters frantic. Again it was Linwood that did the damage – this time with an unexpected shot from the left hand corner of the penalty area which bounced awkwardly in front of Hunter and left him sprawling in shame.
Rarely has there been such an animated hubbub in the crowd as there was during the interval. But they had seen nothing yet. If Celtic started in command they amply formed an avalanche of attack as soon as the second half started. A goal was bound to come but when it did in six minutes it was a fortuitous score, Walsh's shot which appeared to be going past hitting Haddock and spinning past Miller. Three minutes later Collins converted a penalty kick awarded when Somerville was adjudged to have illegally challenged Walsh from behind, and once again we began to feel sorry for Clyde. On went the bombardment of Miller's goal. Tully's shot from the inside right position was only touched by the goalkeeper before it hit the post. McPhail missed as he had done a number of times from a position from which a year ago he would have blown the ball into the net.
Remarkable Change
Then calamity for Celtic. Two Clyde forwards were up when Buchanan crossed in a fleeting raid and as the Celtic defenders left the ball to one another Ring swept it into the net. Eigteen minutes had gone. The second half pattern immediately assumed its former course. Walsh twice lashed high and wide; McPhail temporarily at outside left, fell over the ball when the way to goal was clear; Collins shot was deflected for a corner kick with Miller spread-eagled in the opposite direction; Peacock headed against the crossbar from a Tully corner kick, and Miller in continued defiance of his old club, leapt to save a terrific left foot shot from Evans.
And then it amazingly happened again – Clyde broke away and scored. Mallan, as he had done when Clyde scored first, conceded a free kick, and from an award quickly taken by Ring, Friel passed square to Robertson who made the score 4-2 for Clyde.
Celtic did not know what had hit them but the fury of their onslaught never abated. With none of their forwards a minute in their chosen positions they astounded the crowd with another great rally and eight minutes from time McPhail ensured a dramatic finish when he headed through Baillie's free kick. Miller lay injured for fully three minutes and barely had he taken up his position when Tully at inside right made a perfect opening for Collins to equalise. Not even in the last few seconds did Celtic relent and McPhail headed against the crossbar just when the referee had his watch in his hand and his whistle in his mouth.
It would be unfair to lavish praise on individuals after such a contest yet it would be similarly unfair not to commend Miller, Haddock and Somerville for their stout defense, and Linwood for his enterprising attack.
Celtic will no doubt hold an inquest on their defence and will I think consider whether McPhail is ready for such stamina-testing matches as these. The Celtic captain did far too much shoving for one of his ability: it was to me evidence that he has not yet recovered the speed necessary for his job.