| Match Pictures | Matches: 1967 – 1968 | 1967-68 Pictures |
Trivia
- Jock Stein had been busy during the week between this game and the defeat to Dunfermiline which saw Celtic knocked out of the Scottish Cup in the First Round. He travelled south ostensibly to watch the English Cup replay between Tottenham and Manchester Utd but also to allegedly do some business. The nature of this business was never really disclosed. It might have been to do with a player transfer or as simple as arranging a future fixture between Celtic and one of the teams on show. It is interesting that in the Celtic View of that week Stein discussed the team's progress this season, in no way excusing the loss to Dunfermiline but stating that the team was 'getting on', that future needs of players would need to be addressed and discussing the merits of the younger players coming through who would be known as the Quality Street Gang. It was clear that emphasis now had to be on League progress for future participation in the European Cup next season which Jock Stein saw as paramount for the future of the club.
- Sammy Henderson decided to move on and when the chance came for first team football at Stirling Albion he moved. Stirling payed £2000 for the player. He had only made two first team appearances for Celtic both in the 1963-64 season and had largely been used as a reserve and understudy player.
- During the week Celtic called off another Friendly that had been arranged for Celtic Park against Sparta Prague. There was a problem for Sparta fulfilling the date and the fixture was dropped.
- The SFA told FIFA that they were still awaiting details of the Battle of Montevideo. FIFA said that they had been sent. It all looked like a classic case of trying to do nothing whilst being seen to do something. The Argentine FA had taken no action against either Racing or any of their players.
- John Clark recovered from his ankle injury during the week. Celtic named the team on the Friday. Back in came Jim Craig at right back for the luckless Davie Cattanach, and John Clark was at left half. Up front Hughes went to centre forward and Bobby Lennox came in on the left wing. Jimmy Johnstone was doubtful on the Friday but was fit on the Saturday. For the Jags, Flanagan played with a broken nose.
- On the same day Celtic Reserves defeated Partick Thistle Reserves 5-2. The Celtic scorers were Quinn 2, McMahon, Macari and Brogan. The Celtic team was Fallon, Young, Gorman, Brogan, Connelly, O'Neill, McMahon, Hay, Quinn, Gallagher, Macari. Sub McKellar.
- Some reports credit McNeill's goal as McKinnon o.g.
Review
The key to the win was the restoration of the cool head and partnership between Clark and McNeill and bringing in the speed of Bobby Lennox up front. Whilst wearing the number 11 shirt the Buzzbomb acted more as a double centre forward which gave a terrific drive in the centre of the park.
Lennox scored two goals in the first half to set Celtic on the way. The first came from a Jimmy Johnstone cross into the box, and the second was made by John Hughes and finished by Lennox from close in.
Three minutes after the interval Billy McNeill headed a third which bounced off of McKinnon before ending in the net. O'Neill pulled one back for the Jags before Gemmell scored from the spot after Lennox had been pulled down by Niven.
Teams
Celtic:
Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Wallace, Hughes, Auld, Lennox. Substitute: Chalmers
Scorers: Lennox 2 (17, 21), McNeill (49), Gemmell (pen 65)
Partick Thistle:
Niven, Campbell, Muir, O'Neill, McKinnon, Gibb, Rae, Roxburgh, Coulston, Flanagan, Gallagher. Substitute: Cumming
Scorers: O'Neill (57)
Referee: J. Callaghan (Glasgow)
Attendance: 27,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
