| Match Pictures | Matches: 1958 – 1959 | 1958-59 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic were highly fancied to win this game and go through to the final having won the cup the two previous seasons. Thistle on the other hand were the very unfancied side having scraped through against Arbroath in the previous round. Also Thistle were carrying some injuries in their goalkeeper Ledgerwood (hand) and inside left George Smith (ankle) and their presence was in doubt right up to kick off.
- Willie Fernie was fit though he had taken a leg knock in the previous game against Aberdeen. Despite the knock he was training again on the Monday.
- Celtic were reported as having no injuries so the changes in the side must have been tactical and a decision to go for youth. These saw John Donnelly return at right back instead of Duncan MacKay. A fit-again Jim Conway returned at centre forward in place of John Colrain; and finally Johnny Divers came in in place of Sammy Wilson.
Review
Thistle surprised all the pundits to emerge as victors in the face of adversity. Their keeper Ledgerwood injured his arm in the 49th minute diving to save at Willie Fernie's feet, and had to be withdrawn with Wright taking over between the sticks. Celtic had most of the pressure in the first half but were unable to score. Ledgerwood returned to run the right wing and McKenzie was switched to the left. This switch appeared to galvanise the Thistle team and flustered the up-to-that-point stalwart Celtic defense. Celtic lost composure and their defense hesitated and the passing became wayward and hurried. McParland and McKenzie scored for Thistle – two goals that Beattie could do little to save. Jim Conway did get one back for Celtic befiore the end but it was Thistle's night and they went on to meet Hearts in the final.
Teams
Celtic:
Beattie; Donnelly, Mochan; Smith, McNeill, Peacock; Tully, Fernie, Conway, Divers, Auld.
Scorers: Conway (88)
Partick Thistle:
Ledgerwood; Hogan, Baird; Mathers, Crawford, Donlevy; Mckenzie, Wright, Kerr, Smith, McParland.
Scorers: McParland (72), McKenzie (81)
Referee: J A Mowat (Burnside)
Attendance: 45,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
