1971-02-06: St. Johnstone 3-2 Celtic, League Division 1

Trivia

• It was confirmed that Bobby Murdoch had dislocated his shoulder and he would be out for up to two months. Jim Craig had also taken a knock in the Dunfermiline game but he was able to train in the week.
• Tommy Gemmell and Davie Hay played for Scotland against Belgium on the Wednesday night in Liege. Scotland lost 3-0.
• Hughes and Chalmers were named in the squad for the game
• Relief all round as Aberdeen lose 1-0 to Dunfermline at East End Park. Both teams remained in the same place with Aberdeen 2 points ahead but Celtic with a game in hand.
• On the previous night at Celtic Park Celtic defeated St Johnstone 6-2 in the Reserve League. The Celtic team was Lally, McGrain, Watt, Dalglish, Connelly, Clark, Wilson, Macari, Quinn, Davidson, Lennox Sub McCluskey. The Celtic scorers were Dalglish 2, Macari 2, Davidson and Lennox.
• St Johnstone's young Jim Pearson on his goal:
  “I was 17, having only just broken into the first team a few weeks before. Celtic came to Muirton packed with Lisbon Lions. I did think that day: ‘What the hell am I doing here? These guys have won the European Cup.’ Billy tried his psychology on me. He flexed that big chest of his and me being dead skinny I bounced right off it. He went: ‘Has anyone given you a lollipop yet, sonny?’ Then: ‘Don’t worry, when you’re back at school Matron will look after you.’ But in the tenth minute I got away and scored. As I ran back past him I turned round and pretended to lick a lollipop. Billy went mad and tried to catch me. There was a funny picture in the Sunday Post: ‘The Celtic skipper takes a dim view of Pearson’s enthusiastic celebration’.” (The Scotsman 2020)

Review

St Johnstone…..3-2…..Celtic
Pearson 10 Hall 44 McPhee 76…..Hood 12 Wallace 81

Jock Stein was said to be incandescent with rage after Celtic conceded three goals from high crosses into their penalty box.
Saints had 17 year old striker Jim Pearson making a name for himself and excellent ball players in Aird, Hall and Connolly, who was said to be on the verge of a big money move to England with Everton, Spurs and Newcastle all interested in him.

Celtic badly missed Murdoch in their midfield and had no one to calm their hurried style of play. Pearson opened the scoring in 10 minutes when he got between Craig and McNeill to head home a cross from Hall. Celtic replied two minutes later when Johnstone beat two men in a splendid run and passed to Hood to equalise with a low shot.

A minute from half time Craig failed to deal with a high cross and allowed Hall to score. In the second half Wallace struck the post with a fine overhead kick and after that Celtic began to get desperate and Brogan was booked for a foul on Connolly.

In 77 minutes Saints caught Celtic on the break and great high lob from the right from Connolly was gathered by McPhee who skipped past Williams to score. Another great jinking run by Johnstone created a goal for Wallace to make it 3-2. However Saints held on for a merited victory.

Jimmy Johnstone played on bravely with a nasty shin gash which was bleeding badly and John Hughes was withdrawn for Chalmers instead. In later years big Yogi was able to define that day as the beginning of the end of his Celtic career and he was to depart six months later.

Only Evan Williams and Davie Hay emerged from this game with credit.

Teams

St Johnstone:
Donaldson, Lambie, Argue, Rooney, Rennie, McPhee, Aird, Pearson, McCarry, Hall, Connolly.
Scorers: Pearson (10), Hall (44), McPhee (76)

Celtic:
Williams, Craig, Gemmell, Brogan, McNeill, Hay, Johnstone, Wallace, Hood, Callaghan, Hughes (Chalmers)
Scorers: Hood (12), Wallace (81)

Referee: JRP Gordon
Attendance: 16,000

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Articles