| Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 – 1972 | 1971-1972 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celts shine in sunny spring evening for the last home league game of the season.
- The only change in the team was the return of a fit again Jim Brogan at left back. Lou Macariu was away with the Scotland national squad.
- Semi final replay of reserve League Cup is played before the game, kick off 5.30. Celtic reserves won 3-1. The Celtic team was Connaghan, J. Davidson, Hay, McNamara, Watt, McCluskey, Hancock, V. Davidson, Hood, White, Wilson. Sub Franchetti (V. Davidson). The Celtic scorers were Franchetti 2 and Wilson.
- On the following night Celtic drew 1-1 with St Johnstone in a Reserve League match at Celtic Park. The Celtic team was Connaghan, J. Davidson, Hay, McLaughlin, Watt, McCluskey, Wilson, Balmer, Franchetti, White, Prentice. Sub Mitchell. The Celtic scorer was Wilson.
Review
The goalless first half was well contested by both teams.
In the second period Jinky got the scoring started almost immediately with a right foot shot. Bobby Lennox got the second with a header and Dixie Deans added the third.
Teams
Celtic:
Williams; Craig, Brogan, Murdoch, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Dalglish,Deans, Callaghan, Lennox. Substitute: McLaughlin.
Goals: Johnstone (46), Lennox (51), Deans (83)
Dundee Utd.
McAlpine, Rolland, J. Cameron, Copland, Smith, Gray, Fleming, Kopel; Gardner (Knox), K. Cameron, Trayner.
Referee: J. R. Grant (Larbert).
Attendance: 13,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
The Glasgow Herald Wednesday 26 April 1972
Celtic’s sharpness proves too much for Dundee United
By William Hunter
Celtic 3, Dundee United 0
Parkhead last night provided a little early sunshine and rather less late excitement for the last home game of Celtics seventh championship year. The sunshine was pleasant the excitement less than pulsating.
But the loyal 13,000 crowd had agreeable entertainment, which would be as much as most of them wanted, or expected.
Perhaps some had hoped for sterner stuff. After all, Celtic's men needed to work to ensure themselves of a place in their cup final team. Dundee United had their hopes of winning a place in the Texaco tournament next season to sustain them.
As it happened, Celtic’s sharpness and joy of football so transcended the humbler ambitions of United that there was hardly any competition at all.
Most of the action, crisp and fast though it was happened in the middle in the towering shadows of Murdoch and Connelly.
Celtic added to the middle-muddle as Johnstone and Lennox both strayed increasingly from their wings, cluttering and early incisiveness from Dalglish and Deans.
All of Celtic’s goals came after the interval, the first only a minute after. Deans distracted United’s goalkeeper, McAlpine, enough so that he failed to field a cross by Brogan. The ball broke to Johnstone, who scored nimbly from close range.
Lennox took the second. McNeill rose high to a Johnstone corner and headed forward. Almost on the goal-line Lennox had the simple task of back-heading the ball into the net.
With the only real shot on target of the game Deans, sprung by Johnstone, ran through to make it three.
A jaded, inhibited United were best served by their backs, Rolland and Cameron.
Early in the evening Celtic made sure of a place also in the reserve league final by beating United’s second team by 3-1.