| Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 – 1972 | 1971-1972 Pictures |
Trivia
- An unchanged Celtic side from the one that had beaten Rangers with Brogan's late goal and played so well.
- With Celtic having drawn a further point ahead of Aberdeen after the festive games, the bookies had installed Celtic as favourites for the League title and it all looked as though it would boil down to the away game against Aberdeen for a second season in succession
- Macari was again out. His ankle injury was slowly responding to treatment and he was in light training but not ready for a game. He was also withdrawn from the Scotland U-23 squad.
- Morton were doing well and in their unique manager Hal Stewart they had a man always ready to support his players and their prospects. They had three ex-Celtic players in Chalmers and Clark who had only transferred to Morton this season as well as Chris Shevlane who had spent some time at Celtic Park. John Clark never made the game out with a leg strain.
- A stiff wind and slippery conditions underfoot throughout the game.
- Morton defy the bookies odds and burst the coupons of many punters with a spirited display.
Review
Morton were far from being overawed by Celtic and went ahead in the 19th minute from a goal executed by Highland League signing Don Gillies but engineered by Steve Chalmers.
This stung Celtic into renewed action and just over ten minutes later they were equal when a good free kick from Jinky evaded the Morton defenders and Harry Hood stole in to level. They pushed on for a winning goal but Morton stood up to the pressure and deserved the draw.
Teams
Morton :
Sorensen, Hayes, Shevlane, Lumsden, Anderson, Rankin (Thorup), Gillies, Mason, Osborne, Murphy, Chalmers.
Scorer: Gillies (19)
Sorensen, Hayes, Shevlane, Lumsden, Anderson, Rankin (Thorup), Gillies, Mason, Osborne, Murphy, Chalmers.
Scorer: Gillies (19)
Celtic:
Connaghan, Hay, Brogan, Dalglish, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Lennox, Deans, Callaghan, Hood. Substitute: McGrain
Scorer: Hood (32)
Connaghan, Hay, Brogan, Dalglish, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Lennox, Deans, Callaghan, Hood. Substitute: McGrain
Scorer: Hood (32)
Referee: A. F. Webster (Falkirk).
Attendance: 14,000
From a Special Correspondent
Morton 1, Celtic 1
Morton made the bookmakers’ odds-on figures on Celtic landing a record breaking seventh-successive title look ridiculous on Saturday at Greenock.
By their own standards Celtic were perhaps a little disappointing, but no team can expect to maintain a high degree of performance for 90 minutes every week. Deans again failed to score, but the lively running of Bobby Lennox, who has found a new lease of life, kept the Morton rearguard on their toes. Tommy Callaghan worked hard and laid on the Celtic goal, but Kenny Dalglish was not the driving force he can be, although his distribution and reading of the game was as subtle as ever.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Glasgow Herald Monday 10th January 1972
Morton surprise Celtic
From a Special Correspondent
Morton 1, Celtic 1
Morton made the bookmakers’ odds-on figures on Celtic landing a record breaking seventh-successive title look ridiculous on Saturday at Greenock.
Not even Jock Stein, would grudge Morton a share of the spoils in a tremendously exciting match, but he must be annoyed at the dropping of a point which allowed Aberdeen to close the gap at the top to one point.
Morton, who have not won a league match since they beat Airdrieonians on December 11, gave a performance which completely belied their lowly position. They matched Celtic for endeavour and strength, and indeed in skills, and only an instinctive save by Dennis Connaghan from Billy Osborne in the second half prevented what might have been one of the biggest upsets of the season.
Like all good sides, Morton had their share of luck. Dixie Deans twice scorned good scoring opportunities in the first half, when he headed high over the bar from close range and then when the centre forward hit the ball wide from eight yards. In the second half Deans hit the bar with a header and the ball rebounded into the arms of Erik Sorensen. The Dane had a similar experience late in the game when Joe Mason kicked a Jimmy Johnstone shot off the goal-line into the arms of the goalkeeper.
There were no real failures in a determined Morton side. Their close marking and intelligent play on the tight Cappielow park upset Celtic’s rhythm, and with Tommy Lumsden and Stan Rankin, who had just thrown off the effects of a cartilage operation, working like Trojans in the midfield, Celtic were frequently put under pressure. However Morton’s slick build-up was often spoiled by the final pass going astray.
Young George Anderson at centre half was the rock upon which many of Celtic’s attacks floundered. His uncanny anticipation and hard tackling showed him to be a fine prospect, and he even had time to make a few sorties upfield.
The Celtic defence did not look too confident, and on the slippery surface made several mistakes which could have proved costly. Osborne’s bustling style had an unsettling effect and Billy McNeill and George Connelly had their fair share of anxious moments.
Lively running
By their own standards Celtic were perhaps a little disappointing, but no team can expect to maintain a high degree of performance for 90 minutes every week. Deans again failed to score, but the lively running of Bobby Lennox, who has found a new lease of life, kept the Morton rearguard on their toes. Tommy Callaghan worked hard and laid on the Celtic goal, but Kenny Dalglish was not the driving force he can be, although his distribution and reading of the game was as subtle as ever.
Morton took the lead in 19 minutes when a snap shot by Don Gillies from outside the penalty area was deflected by Brogan past Connaghan. Celtic’s goal came 12 minutes later when Callaghan headed on a Johnstone cross to Hood, who slipped the ball past the advancing Sorensen.
Morton were forced to use their substitute, Borge Thorup, near the end when Rankin went off with a leg injury.
