| Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 – 1972 | 1971-72 Pictures |
Trivia
- Despite both teams having played not two days previously both managers were tight-lipped about their team selections and neither made an announcement before kick-off.
- All three of the immediate first team had recovered from their respective injuries and available – Jinky from 'flu/sore throat; Quinn and Macari from ankle injuries. In came Jimmy Johnstone and out went Vic Davidson despite an excellent performance against Clyde. Danny Mcgrain was retained as sub. For Rangers Mathieson was back at left back.
- Both sides wore black armbands in remembrance of those who died in the Ibrox disaster 12 months previously and the flags at Celtic Park were also flown at half mast.
- Jim Brogan's father left the ground with 5 minutes remaining and missed his son's greatest moment as a Celt.
- This was Celtic's first league double over Rangers since 1912.
- Manchester City manager Malcolm Allison was in the stand to watch Willie Johnston of Rangers.
Review
One of the most dramatic ever endings to an Old Firm game.
Colin Stein had levelled Jinky's first half opener in 81 minutes and draw looked likely.
With seconds remaining McNeill launched a ball into the Rangers area. Hood controlled it well and lobbed a cross to the far post where Brogan had gambled by making a run and the Celtic defender scored with a fine header.
Brogan was mobbed by happy Celtic players as the fans celebrated all around him.
This was Jim Brogan's finest moment in a Celtic jersey.
Teams
Celtic:
Connaghan, Hay, Brogan, Dalglish, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Lennox, Deans, Callaghan, Hood. Substitute: McGrain.
Goals: Johnstone (35), Brogan (90).
RANGERS:
McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Johnstone, Stein, MacDonald, Johnston. Substitute: Conn.
Goal: Stein (81).
Referee: W J Mullen (Dalkeith)
Attendance: 70,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
GLASGOW HERALD REPORT BY RAYMOND JACOBS
RANGERS STUNNED BY INJURY TIME WINNER FROM JIM BROGAN
The biters were badly bitten at Parkhead yesterday. Rangers, who had narrowly beaten Partick Thistle with a goal in the second minute of injury time, were themselves stunned in the same way by Celtic when everyone had reconciled themselves to a draw.
Of all the instruments that might have inflicted on Rangers their first defeat after seven successive victories and their fourth in as many games against Celtic this season, the least likely to have been chosen was the head of Celtic's left back, Jim Brogan.
With the game heading towards the draw that would surely have soothed the strongest passions, Billy McNeill took a free kick. The ball came to Hood and, as he brought it under control, Brogan began a run into the area which he timed perfectly to infiltrate in front of McCloy, meet Hood's clever lob, and glance the ball home.
By appearing as he did, apparently from nowhere, Brogan brought an unexpected climax to a game, which, on their endeavour in the second half, Rangers hardly deserved to lose.
Before the interval Celtic had established a rhythm and, through Dalglish and Callaghan, a useful measure of control in the midfield. Rangers, who had optimistically began the game with four men upfront, were gradually forced to withdraw as Celtic exerted great pressure.
Celtic thus made more chances for themselves and before Jimmy Johnstone opened the scoring in 35 minutes, Deans, Lennox and Hood had all gone close. Apart from that, Rangers put themselves in difficulty by needlessly giving away free kicks in dangerous positions.
It was from one of these that Celtic's first goal came, almost by way of being a punishment. From the left side of the area Hood flighted the ball to the far side, and there was Jimmy Johnstone, standing completely unmarked so that he only had to stoop to conquer McCloy with his head.
For their part Rangers showed splendid willingness to carry the fight. McLean passed the ammunition effectively and Stein and Derek Johnstone gave Connaghan more than one uncomfortable moment as they ran on to the high ball with which Rangers tested the nerve and judgement of the Celts' goalkeeper.
Together the sides put together a first half of football as fluent and entertaining as anyone can hope for in a match where the usual tendency of the occasion is for the tension to subvert normal skills into rushed passing, uncompromising tackles and trigger happy shooting.
The second half was much more of a patchwork. Rangers swung all their considerable weight into their attempt to beard those formidable lions in their den.
The pressure was then on Celtic and Connelly, just as Smith had done, stood out as the cooling influence in defence.
Yet despite Rangers' exertions, Hood twice had shots saved by McCloy and Mathieson had his name taken for bringing down Lennox as he sprinted clear – not by any means he worst foul of a match that was controlled with commendable lack of fuss by referee Mr Mullan.
But with nine minutes left Rangers were at last rewarded with what seemed likely to be the equalising goal. Mathieson pushed the ball forward and Stein and Johnston took it almost in tandem with a rush that broke through Celtic's defence. It was Stein's shot that Connaghan got his hands to put could not stop.
And that, we thought, was that – until Brogan's bolt from the blue brought the game to a stirring end and left the masses at the Celtic end of the ground to noisily exult over their rivals who stood in mute disbelief at the other end.
CELTIC – Connaghan, Hay, Brogan, Dalglish, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Lennox, Deans, Callaghan, Hood.
Sub McGrain.
Goals:- Johnstone 35, Brogan 90.
RANGERS – McCloy Jardine Mathieson Greig Jackson Smith McLean Johnstone Stein MacDonald Johnstone.
Sub Conn.
Goal:- Stein 81.
Attendance 77,000
The Glasgow Herald, Monday January 3 1971
Stein and Waddell stay silent over Old Firm encounter
By Raymond Jacobs
While all of Celtic’s first-team pool assembled yesterday for a morning session of light training Willie Mathieson was the only Rangers player to report to the ground at Ibrox as the clubs made separate approaches to their preparations for the match this afternoon at Parkhead.
Mathieson, who has missed Rangers’ last two games because of a foot injury, is making progress Willie Waddell said yesterday, and the return of the capable left back would clearly be welcomed for a game whose special tensions need experience to withstand.
Neither Waddell nor Jock Stein were prepared to announce even a preliminary group from whom they would select a side to play before a 70,000 all-ticket crowd. The respective managers will wait until they see their players again this morning before they finally make up their minds.
Abstentees
On Celtic’s side, Jimmy Johnstone did not play on Saturday because of flu, but the winger is expected to turn out today. Jimmy Quinn and Lou Macari, who were also absent from the game against Clyde, are available for consideration, along with other members of the pool.
These games have over the years developed a life of their own and results have frequently owed little or nothing to form of the day. More recently, however, Celtic have tended to hold the whiphand and already this season have beaten Rangers three times, all at Ibrox.
As Aberdeen were held to a draw at Dundee, Celtic increased their lead in the league championship to two points with their crushing victory at Shawfield. Should Celtic lose to Rangers at Parkhead, something they have not done for three years, they would risk having their newly won advantage wiped out, as Aberdeen should beat St Johnstone at Pittodrie.
On paper at any rate, Celtic have the more skilful players in midfield and a greater flair in attack. Rangers will attempt to resist these assets with power and determination and a defence which has conceded only three goals in the last seven games, all of which they have won, to take them into third place in the table and within five points of Aberdeen.
Almost without exception Old Firm games are evenly matched and this one will probably maintain that pattern. And of course the fervent hope must be that the game will be fulfilled without serious incident, either on the field or off it.
Evening Times 3rd January 1971
Glasgow Herald 4th January 1972
