| Match Pictures | Matches: 1956 – 1957 | 1956-57 pictures |
Trivia
- An unchanged side for the fourth game in a row.
- All the Celtic players were reported to be fit and ready for the game – all except Jock Stein who had just been allowed home from the Royal Infirmary to his Burnbank home and was still on crutches. In fact Stein had finally realised that there was no way that his ankle would sustain the rigours of a full season and had announced his retirement from playing football full time on the 29th January and his future was still in doubt.
- The game was completely sold out with the Chief Constable of Glasgow urging all to "…. act in a sportsmanlike manner and in particular to leave flags, banners etc at home thereby ensuring for all concerned an enjoyable game."
Review
Rangers were inordinately fortunate in being awarded a soft penalty. Seven minutes from time Celtic led 4-2. Baird lofted a ball into the Celtic penalty area and with only Hubbard half heartedly challenging for the ball Jack was deemed to have fouled the Ranger. Hubbard duly scored from the spot and two minutes later they were equal when Jack sent a pass back way too short and Murray side-footed a shot home.
The game before this had been fast and furious with four goals in nine first half minutes. Simpson and Morrison combined for Rangers first. Three minutes later McPhail ended an excellent Celtic passing move from one end to the other. Fallon was then penalised and Simpson headed home Scott's free kick, only for Collins and Higgins to combine to keep the scores level at 2 a piece – 15 minutes gone and the score was 2-2!
Higgins had better chances before and after half time but failed to put them away. Celtic's third came from a Fernie corner which was headed down by McPhail and hooked home by Collins and the fourth came from an excellent run by McPhail who released a pass to Fernie who turned and shot in one move. Then came the two Jack blunders and the referee's intervention and it was onto the replay at Ibrox.
All in all a creditable and exciting game.
Teams
Celtic:
Beattie; Haughney, Fallon; Evans, Jack, Peacock; Higgins, Fernie, McPhail, Mochan, Collins.
Scorers: McPhail (10), Higgins (15), Collins (75), Fernie (81)
Rangers:
Niven; Shearer, Caldow; McColl, Davis, baird; Scott, Simpson, Murray, Morrison, Hubbard.
Scorers: Morrison (7), Simpson (14), Hubbard (pen 83), Murray (85)
Referee: J A Mowat (Burnside)
Attendance: 50,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Glasgow Herald 18th February 1957
Evening Times 18th February 1957
