| Match Pictures | Matches: 1970 – 1971 | 1970-1971 Pictures |
Trivia
- A much anticipated game with both Aberdeen and Celtic going well at the top of Division 1. Celtic had a 1 point advantage at the start of the month. Both teams won their fixtures on the 5th December so this was a crucial game.
- The kick off for this game was brought forward by 10 minutes to 2:50 pm and the half time interval cut to 5 minutes. This was because of the possibility of a power cut later when the floodlights were kicked on during a period of national industrial unrest and strikes. The early kick off and short interval were an attempt to finish early so that only minimal lighting would be needed.
- Willie Wallace was definetly out even though he played in the Friendly against Raith Rovers. His heel injury had failed to respond.The only change to the team from the last League game was David Hay coming in instead of Vic Davidson. Harry Hood was on the bench.Lennox and Wallace were not match fit and not tested.
- Aberdeen went one point in front of Celtic in league race.
- Aberdeen's tenth consecutive win on the trot.
- Aberdeen's seventh game without conceding a goal.
- Magnificent crowd of 63,000 attend.
- The Reserves lost to Aberdeen Reserves at Pittodrie by a similar score.
- The rumours started flying that Celtic were trying to sign Dixie Deans of Motherwell
- Dave Ewing was appointed manager at Hibernian, having only just been appointed coach there, with the sacking of Willie MacFarlane.
- In the Saturday of the game Evening Times an article mentions the establishment of a trust fund for an ailing Bobby Evans. Bobby had left Celtic for Chelsea in 1960. He returned to Scotland in 1963 to play, coach and then manage Morton before moving on to manage Third Lanark just before their demise. He had two final years as a player with Raith Rovers before retiring from the game in 1968. By 1970 at the age of 43 Bobby Evans was down on his luck, poor and suffering from ill health. The fund was established to maintain a Celtic legend.
Review
This game was highly anticipated between Scotland's top two teams.
Aberdeen's defence was superb and their well drilled offside trap frustrated both the Celtic players and fans so when Harper scored in 53 minutes Celtic feared the worst. Up till then it had been a well contested match by two teams fighting to gain an advantage. Aberdeen had pressed the Celtic goal hard and Fallon had made some spectacular and crucial saves to keep it goal-less at half time.
Only when Hood came on as sub for George Connelly did Celtic show any urgency or fluency and Clark made a fine save from Macari and then Celtic had a penalty claim turned down.
On this form Aberdeen now became favourites for the title.
Teams
Celtic :
Fallon, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Brogan, Johnstone, Connelly (Hood 65), Macari, Hay, Hughes
Scorers:
Aberdeen:
Clark, Boel, Hermiston, Murray, McMillan, Buchan, Taylor, Robb, Forrest (Willoughby), Harper, Graham
Scorer Harper (53)
Referee: A.F.J. Webster (Falkirk)
Attendance: 63,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
