1957-03-23: Celtic 1-1 Kilmarnock, Scottish Cup

Match Pictures \| Matches: 1956 – 1957 \| 1956-57 pictures \| Scottish Cup 1956-57

Match Pictures | Matches: 1956 – 1957 | 1956-57 pictures | Scottish Cup 1956-57

Trivia

Played at Hampden Park to a sell out crowd despite there being a bus strike on at the time.
With Fernie again fit, Collins moved back to the left wing and Tully dropped out. McPhail’s ankle injury, though responding to treatment, was not considered strong enough to chance the centre forward position and in a bold move Alec Byrne continued.
For Kilmarnock Willie Toner failed to shake off a muscle strain and his place was taken by Bobby Dougan. Killie’s U23 Scotland striker Frank Beattie also failed to make the game.

Review

Celtic came out in the white top and shamrock kit and Kilmarnock appeared in short sleeved rangers blue tops. Killie won the toss and, with the wind behind them, started of by fouling Celtic players twice in succession. Things started well for Celtic with Byrne and Mochan combining to test Brown in the Killie goal. Celtic pressed hard with Evans, Peacock and even Haughney joining in attacks. Far from the new bhoy Byrne being overwhelmed by the occasion he was playing exceptionally well but was swapping places with Mochan.

After 12 minutes Killie had yet to make an attack of consequence. Gradually they started to get into the game and came close on two occasions. Celtic were playing with confidence but on 35 minutes Harvey flighted over a ball and Mays rose above the Celtic defense to head home. Celtic came back hard and Collins struck the post twice but Killie held out and went in at half time a goal up.

The Hampden Swirl was now making it’s presence felt and whipping around the ground this way and that causing the ball to move all over.
Celtic carried on where they had left off the first half with Collins firing over crosses. Harvey left the field for attention after colliding with Jack’s studs in the centre of the park but came back on after a minute going to outside left. Mochan and Collins now switched positions and Brown was called into some good saves by the Celtic attackers. Fernie was being successfully man marked by Black who did a good job of keeping the demon dribbler out of the game. Celtic hemmed their opponents into their half for most of the second half but it was not until the 84th minute that a Mochan corner finally sailed over the head of Brown to find Higgins waiting and his header crossing the line was greeted by bedlam on the Celtic terraces.

An exciting if rarely skillful match saw honours even and the replay on Wednesday afternoon. Killie effectively pulled the curtain down after going one ahead against the play and Celtic had to work for the equaliser.