| Match Pictures | Matches: 1967 – 1968 | 1967-68 Pictures |
Trivia
- This game had been due to be played at the weekend but was postponed for the Scotland – Ireland international in which 4 Celts were due to take part for Scotland. The game was played on the Tuesday night. Immediately prior to the game Jimmy Johnstone’s eligibility for the return leg against Racing was solved and he was free to play.
- Almost every player in the Celtic team that played against Racing needed treatment after the game. Lennox, who caught a belt round the ear was disabled enough to have to withdraw from the Scotland side against Ireland. Billy McNeill sported a large bruise under his left eye. Jimmy Johnstone’s legs were bruised from ankle to hip. Murdoch had had his foot stamped on.
- Scotland played Ireland on Saturday 21st at Windsor Park, Belfast losing 1-0. Simpson, Gemmell, Wallace and Murdoch were in the side. Simpson saved a penalty.
- The Reserves went ahead with their Reserve game at Fir Park on the Saturday. They won 4-2 with a team of Fallon, Shevlane, O’Neill, Henderson, Connelly, Brogan, Gallacher, McBride, Chalmers, Quinn, Hughes.
- The extra time allowed players to recover from knocks taken against Racing. Bobby Lennox duly made the game as well as Murdoch and McNeill. Jimmy Johnson was of course suspended and Steve Chalmers came in.
- Prior to the game Jock Stein had said that he would more than likely sub someone at half time to give someone a rest for South America. As it was no one wanted to come off so Willie O’Neill saw the second half again on the bench.
St Enoch’s railway station in the centre of town was converted into a giant car park. The station had been empty and closed since June 1966
Review
Steve Chalmers finished off an accomplished performance by the half backs and forwards but lapses by the defence allowed Motherwell in to score two goals. Chalmers capped his performance with his first goal of the season. Before that Wallace and McNeill put the Bhoys two goals to the good with headers. Bobby Campbell sneaked in between these beating McNeill to a Dixie Deans pass to score. Just before half time Bobby Lennox made it 3-1 with a good shot.
The half time score reflected the superiority of Celtic but after the whistle Motherwell pulled a second back again through slack Celtic defensive play when Campbell recovered faster than McNeill and promptly lobbed Simpson. Chalmers restored the two goal cushion when he slipped in and headed home Hughes’ intelligent chip.
Top marks for Celtic went to Bobby Murdoch and Bertie Auld – one for driving on the forwards and the other for making so many opportunities, and John Clark who was always there when needed.
Teams
Celtic:
Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Chalmers, Lennox, Auld, Wallace, Hughes. Substitute: O’Neill
Scorers: Wallace (12), McNeill (40), Lennox (42), Chalmers (58)
Motherwell:
McCloy, Whiteford, McKay, Murray, Martis, McCallum, Lindsay, M. Thomson, Deans, Goldthorpe, Campbell Sub: Forsyth
Scorers: Campbell 15, 48
Referee: R.D. Henderson (Dundee)
Attendance: 23,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
