| Match Pictures | Matches: 1957 – 1958 | 1957-58 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic did not declare a team prior to the game but when the teams were announced Jim Sharkey lost out to Eric Smith and inside left and Bertie Auld came in for a competitive debut (though he had started in the Charities Cup game against Rangers at the end of the previous season). Fernie continued at right half and Evans at centre half with John Donnelly retaining his place at right back. Neil Mochan was dropped though Billy McPhail was as out of form as Smiler.
- John Higgins had his first light training session after meeting with his knee specialist. Matt McVittie, who had been playing in the reserves had returned to Germany to complete his National Service and was due to be demobbed in six months time.
- On the training front, Celtic trainer Willie Johnstone had been putting the squad through sprint training. Fastest over 100 yards were young centre forward Jim Conway and Duncan MacKay and fastest over 25 yards was Frank Meechan. Billy McPhail and Willie Fernie were the fastest of the older established veteran players.
- The Reserves beat Airdrie Reserves 3-0 to go to second in their Reserve League Cup table. The team was Bonnar, Meechan, Kennedy; Wilson, Jack, Conroy; Ryan, Divers, Byrne, Colrain, Whyte.
Review
After a fairly even start Airdrie went ahead after a good passing move saw Duncan's shot come back off an upright and Caven was there to slot the rebound away. Only good goalkeeping stopped Celtic pulling back the equaliser immediately. Just before the interval Peacock and Collins combined and from Collins' cross Smith headed home.
Celtic attacked strongly in the second half and again good goalkeeping from Walker kept Celtic at bay. Fernie got a second for Celtic when he picked up a Tully corner and shot home. Thereafter Fernie played at inside left swapping places with Smith.
A draw for East Fife against Hibs saw Celtic move back to the top of the table with two games left to play.
| Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
| Celtic | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Hibernian | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Airdrie | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
| East Fife | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 1 |
Teams
Airdrieonians:
Walker; Kilmarnock, Shanks; Price, Quigley, Quinn; Rankin, Welsh, Caven, Duncan, McLean.
Scorers: Caven (20)
Celtic:
Beattie; Donnelly, Fallon; Fernie, Evans, Peacock; Tully, Collins, McPhail, Smith, Auld .
Scorers: Smith (45), Fernie (72)
Referee: D Weir (Glasgow)
Attendance: 16,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
