| Match Pictures | Matches: 1969 – 1970 | 1969-70 Pictures |
Trivia
- John Fallon was rested and in came veteran Ronnie Simpson, a week short of his 39th birthday, for his first competitive start since February. Out of the squad were Jim Craig and Jim Brogan, but Tommy Callaghan was retained and John Hughes was back fit and in the side. Harry Hood dropped to the bench.
- Kenny Dalglish’s League debut.
- Celtic played in change strip of green shirts, white shorts and white socks.
- The Reseerves faced Kilmarnock Reserves away in the Secon XI Cup with a team of Fallon, Craig, McGrain, Connelly, Brogan, Cattanach, Tony McBride, Davidson, Macari, Auld, Wilson with Gorman as sub. They drew 1-1.
Review
Although Kenny Dalglish had actually played against Hamilton in a League Cup tie as substitute, he made his League debut against Raith Rovers in this game.
Jimmy Johnstone's second goal was outstanding when he dribbled past three defenders before scoring and Callaghan scored with a Gemmell-like thunderous shot.
This was Jimmy Johnstone's game.
Teams
Celtic:-
Simpson, Hay, Gemmell, Dalglish, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone (Hood 75), Lennox, Wallace, Callaghan, Hughes.
Goals:- Johnstone 2 (12, 20), Lennox 2 (37, 63), Wallace (40), Callaghan (65), Hughes (73).
Raith Rovers:-
Reid, Gray, Lindsay, D Miller, Polland, Cooper, A Miller (Bolton), Falconer, Sinclair, Brand, Gillespie.
Goal:- Sinclair 42.
Referee:- JW Paterson, Bothwell.
Attendance:- 32,000.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
Pictures
Articles
From a Newspaper Report
Maybe it’s all this talk about going back to Lisbon, but the Celtic Lions are roaring again.
And leading the Parkhead pack on the goal hunt here was little Jimmy Johnstone.
He was the man who made it a miserable afternoon for Raith Rovers. When Jock Stein replaced him with Harry Hood 15 minutes from time, it could have been only an act of mercy.
On this form the little redhead is a must for this month’s World Cup clash in Hamburg.
The game was only 12 minutes old when Wallace struck a long ball through the middle. Lennox fastened on and held it until Johnstone arrived. The wee man took the pass, dodged three defenders in as many yards, and rammed the ball home.
Then, eight minutes later, he was on the spot to stab home a low cross from Hughes and the game was as good as over.
With eighteen-year-old Kenny Dalglish Tom Callaghan combining well in midfield, Celtic turned on an entertaining brand of powerful, skilled soccer.
In addition to Johnstone, Wallace and Lennox were always buzzing dangerously around Reid’s charge, and big Hughes had one of those days when only a brick wall would have stopped him.
Raith, by contrast, were a sluggish, unimaginative lot. The defence relied too much on the big boot, and the wing-halves were heavily under pressure to be constructive. Only Ralph Brand showed any idea in midfield, but the rest of the forwards were always a thought behind him.
Polland had a tragic day. Twice he tried to dribble round Wallace, and failed. The first time, the centre’s shot was blocked, only for Lennox to scramble the ball home. The second time Wallace fairly thundered the ball past Reid.
At the other end, John Clark’s thoughts must also have been on his half-time cuppa when he tried to dribble past Falconer. The left-half made a complete hash of it, and the ball went to Sinclair. With his only chance of the game, the young striker tucked it safely behind the advancing Simpson.
Celtic’s second-half goals were all memorable. Lennox ended a long run with a quick one-two with Wallace. The ball broke off Reid for Lennox to tap home.
Then the inside-right cut one back to Callaghan, who flashed home a 20 –yard volley.
But the last goal was the best. Dalglish hit a raking cross-field pass to Hughes. Off went the big fellow past one, two, three men, and the ball exploded off his left foot past the helpless Reid.
There were no failures in a Celtic side that looked well on the way back to top form here. At the same time, recalling the weakness of the opposition, maybe they shouldn’t write too much into this goal feast.