| Match Pictures | Matches: 1967 – 1968 | 1967-68 Pictures |
Trivia
- Bobby Murdoch found himself before the SFA Referees Disciplinary Committee on the Monday before this game. This was to account for the sending off against Dinamo Kiev on the 4th October. He escaped suspension and fining and got away with a 'severe censure'.
- Hibernian pulled off a dramatic recovery in the second leg of their Fairs Cup game against Napoli. Down 4-1 from the first away leg they won 5-0 at Easter Rd do go through to the next round.
- Celtic came out of the previous weekend's game against Rait Rovers with three team injuries. Jim Brogan had had to be subbed by McBride in the second half when he sould not continue through an ankle injury. Willie O'Neill was likely to be out with a back injury. Bobby Lennox had slightly strained a calf muscle playiong in a Reserve game. Jim Craig had also made a full recovery from his stomach complaint and was available for selection.
- Celtic delayed the naming of the team till before the game. In came Chris Shevlane at right back with John Clark back fit again at right half.
- Willie Wallace ordered off.
- Celtic play in change strip of all green.
Outside of football the five shipyards on the upper Clyde – John Brown's, Charles Connell's, Fairfields, Alexander Stephen & Sons and Yarrow's – were in the process of negotiating a joint merger and amalgamation into Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. Discussions were still proceding but it was felt to be the only way forward for the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde.
Review
Celtic dropped a surprise point to Dundee United. In a tight first half there was no scoring but a great deal of testing of each other's defenses with Simpson having a great game. Celtic's front line played well in the opening exchanges with John Hughes making inroads on the left and Chalmers and Wallace combining well.
Dundee Utd opened fast and sharply in the second half and Gemmell made a last minute save on the line. Rolland was booked for a foul on Gemmell. Johnstone and Hughes switched sides to try and push home an advantage. On 74 minutes Davie Wilson opened the score for the Arabs but a minute later Bobby Murdoch restored parity. Shevlane was then replaced by McBride, with Wallace going to the right and McBride playing up front. Wallace's role was then to track Davie Wilson.
Willie Wallace was in the wars with ex Rangers players Jimmy Miller and Davie Wilson. He was booked for a tussle with Miller and then sent off six minutes from time for punching Wilson on the jaw after a solid round of 'chat' between the two of them. The referee missed the incident entirely and had to go on the word of the far side linesman. Wallace duly got his marching orders and as he left the field fighting broke out on the terraces behind the goal. Order was soon restored by Glasgow's finest.
Teams
Celtic
Simpson, Shevlane (McBride), Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Chalmers, Wallace, Auld, Hughes.
Scorer Murdoch (74)
Dundee United
Mackay, Millar, Briggs, Wood, Smith, Gillespie, Seeman, Rolland, Hainey, Graham, Wilson
Scorer Wilson (73)
Referee: R.C. Greenlees (Lochgelly)
Attendance: 37,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
