| Match Pictures | Matches: 1967 – 1968 | 1967-68 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic trained at Seamills for much of the week and there were no reported injuries from the Partick Thistle game.
- Lisbon Lions: This is the last time the Lions XI FINISHED a game together (Hughes started the game, and Chalmers subbed on later).
- The team was announced on the Friday with Jock Stein going for an unchanged side from the one that defeated Partick Thistle 4-1. Motherwell were struggling in the league at this period and, third from bottom of the division would struggle to avoid relegation.
- This was the last chance for players to stake a claim for the inclusion in the Scotland side that would face England at Hampden on the 24th.
- Jimmy Johnstone was included in a World select team put together on paper by the top ten European football journalists. The others were Banks (England), Marzolini (Argentina), J Charlton (England), Moore (England), Faccetti (Italy), Beckenbauer (W Germany), R Charlton (England), Johnstone (Scotland), Eusebio (Portugal), Pele (Brazil), Best (Ireland)
- On the same day Celtic Reserves lost 2-0 to Rangers in the third round of the Second Eleven Cup. The team was Fallon, Young, O’Neill, Cattanach, Connelly, Brogan, Gallacher, McMahon, Quinn, Hay, Macari. Sub McKellar.
Review
Celtic played well at Fir Park as can be seen from the video clip below.
John Hughes did enough to stake a claim for a Scotland shirt but he injured his back in the first half and was subbed by Stevie Chalmers in the second. Also subbed was future Celt Dixie Deans for Motherwell who was injured and stretchered off in a collision with Billy McNeill.
Motherwell seemed error-prone in the opening exchanges and they were lucky not to concede a goal earlier. Hughes started the move that led to the goal and when it was finally centred he was there to rise and head home.
The second half was further Celtic pressure. Bertie Auld was injured in the latter part of the second half but having used the sub he had to continue. This curtailed the Celtic attacks as Auld had been the marshall of most of the moves. As the game progressed through the second half Motherwell became dominant and Celtic regressed but held out to the final whistle.
Teams
Motherwell
McCloy, Whiteford, Mackay, Campbell, Martis, W. McCallum, Wilson, McInally, Deans (Hogg, 53), McCall, Murray
Scorers:
Celtic
Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Wallace, Hughes (Chalmers, 45), Auld, Lennox.
Scorers: Hughes 27
Referee: E. Thomson (Edinburgh)
Attendance: 20,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
