| Match Pictures | Matches: 1958 – 1959 | 1958-59 Pictures |
Trivia
- Prior to the game everyoner hoped for an 'exhibition' match. After the disruption at the last meeting of the two sides the Glasgow Magistrates, the SFA and SFL and the clubs had been drawn into an unholy wrangle on how to remove the 'hooligan' element from the fixture and this had gone as far again as the magistrates threatening to seek extra judicial powers from the Secretary of State for Scotland. Both supporters associations called on all to 'Keep the Peace'. There was no vestige of trouble at the game, partly due to the weather conditions. Not one banner or flag was seen throughout the game.
- Celtic played an unchanged side from the one that defeated Clyde.
- This game was played in a gale of rain, sleet and hail. Beattie played up to his ankles in mud and water and at times had to hold onto the post with the strength of the wind. Jack Mowat decided after consultation to play the game to the end though it had long since become an effort of endurance.
- Elsewhere the Cuban revolution was coming to a head with Batista's forces deserting and Castro's forces headed for Havana.
Review
Peacock opened the scoring with a low shot that was deflected off Telfer and past Niven. Four minutes later Rangers equalised through Matthews after Beattie had saved from the outside left. Caldow put Rangers ahead from the penalty spot after Mochan had armed away a shot with no apparent danger to Beattie. Ten minutes from time it was touch and go whether the game would be abandoned and the referee consulted with both his linesmen. . A dreadful gale was sweeping over the pitch which had long since become a quagmire allowing no reasonable game of football to be played. No sign could be made out of either goal line markings. Celtic made tremendous effort to neutralise Rangers 2-1 lead and five minutes from time Celtic were awarded a penalty. Auld had to search for the penalty spot in the morass that had become the Rangers area. His shot struck the crossbar and was cleared.
This was a lucky escape for Rangers for their goal had been peppered by shots after Rangers went ahead and Celtic were confounded by appalling conditions.
Teams
Rangers:
Niven; Shearer, Caldow; McColl, Telfer, Stevenson; Scott, McMillan, Murray, Brand, Matthews.
Scorers: Matthew (19), Caldow (pen 63)
Celtic:
Beattie; MacKay, Mochan; Smith, Evans, Peacock; McVittie, Jackson, Colrain, Divers, Auld.
Scorers: Peacock (15)
Referee: J A Mowat (Burnside)
Attendance: 55,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
