1954-08-21: Celtic 1-2 Heart of Midlothian, League Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 1954 – 1955 | 1954-55 pictures

Trivia

An unchanged Celtic side.
To have any chance of progressing through the initial group stage this was a definite ‘win needed’ game for Celtic. Hearts were already top of the group and came from a resounding 6-2 win over Falkirk. Jimmy Wardhaugh of Hearts had made a superb goal-scoring start to the season for the Edinburgh club.
Outside of the immediate team, Jimmy McIlroy who had been playing for the reserves was admitted to hospital and operarted on for appendicitis. He would be out for up to a month.
Berwick Rangers opened their new stadium at Shielfield Park with a match against Celtic Reserves on 21 August 1954.

Review

An entertaining game if a poor result by all accounts. Celtic kicked off and immediately went into full pressure mode on the Hearts goal. An excellent counter from Hearts saw them pass their way up the field and with some intelligent movement cut the Celtic defense open. Wardhaugh’s shot was inches wide. Celtic were playing ruggedly and Hearts were countering with some delicate execution making the Celtic defense look flat-footed. Wardhaugh duly scored from another clean move in the 28th minute. Ten minutes later Peacock headed through his own net when trying to deflect a Wardhaugh header. Bauld had to retire with a leg injury in the second half. Celtic pulled one back when Stein hooked a shot through to close under the Hearts bar and Higgins beat the gaolkeeper to head home. In the dying moments Mochan was chopped down and from the free kick he fired into the defensive wall.