| Match Pictures | Matches: 1972 – 1973 | 1972-1973 Pictures |
Trivia
- McGrain plays after making remarkable recovery from skull fracture at Falkirk.
- Referee Paterson is knocked out of the park by Willie Young and has to be replaced for a while.
The linesman pulled a muscle and they asked over tannoy was their an official in the ground. A guy came out of the crowd in the main stand and ran the line with his suit on. Aberdeen had a goal disallowed by him. - In the other semi-final at Easter Road between Hibernian and Rangers
- Rangers fans go on the riot after Hibernian went into the lead. This just to add to their riotous behaviour at the European Cup Winners Cup in Barcelona at the end of the previous season, Bailie Stevenson says these 'fans' should be put in cattle trucks. LINK
Review
With the scores level at 1-1 after 90 minutes a further 30 minutes extras time followed. Aberdeen scored first but Celtic hit back with two quick goals.
This was the night the linesman pulled a muscle and they asked over tannoy was their an official in the ground. A guy came out of the crowd in the main stand and ran the line with his suit on. Aberdeen had a goal disallowed by him.
Teams
Celtic:
Williams; McGrain, Brogan, Murdoch, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Dalglish, Deans (Wilson 63), Macari, Callaghan. Substitute: Connaghan.
Scorers: Johnstone (15), Wilson (108), Callaghan (111),
Aberdeen:
Clark, Willoughby, Hermiston, Murray, Boal, Young, Miller, Robb, Harper, Jarvie, Taylor (Buchan 45). Subs: Geoghan
Scorers: Buchan (59, 95)
Referee: J. W. Paterson (Bothwell).
Attendance: 40,000.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
The Scotsman, Wednesday, 2nd August 1972
McGrain will face Aberdeen tonight
By John Rafferty
Danny McGrain, the young Celtic fall back who suffered a fractured skull during last season, will come back to football tonight At least, that is the intention of Jock Stein. All that will stop McGrain playing at Celtic Park against Aberdeen in the semi-final of the Drybrough Cup will be adverse reaction today after taking part in the first half against Queen's Park last night.
Stein said yesterday: "Danny has been cleared by the specialist and he is fully fit. We think it would be wrong to nurse him, and the sooner he gets back into the game the better. The match against Aberdeen will have much atmosphere and excitement, and it should be a good occasion for him. He will not have time to think back to his injury.
McGrain was shaping like an international full back until, after a clash of heads at Falkirk, a skull fracture was diagnosed. Rest and treatment for the past six months took him away from the game, but recently he has been showing much verve.
He had no doubts the specialist would clear him this week. He has been training hard and no after-effects of the injury have shown.
McGrain is a sensible young man who seems certain to have a good future in football—a fact which caused much disquiet when he was injured. Now the way seems clear for his career to continue and, probably, spectacularly.
It was open for his inclusion at right back when David Hay was found to have a muscle strain which had not cleared sufficiently. Hay should be ready for action next week.
Stein would nominate no other player for the team. He gave Johnstone, Hood and Lennox a practice against Queen's Park last night and said he would make up his mind after studying their fitness.
Jimmy Bonthrone, the Aberdeen manager, has no intention of making changes in the team that eventually struggled against St Mirren. He has brought George Murray and George Buchan into the pool, but they are unlikely to play.
The Aberdeen manager hid a ready explanation for the dissatisfaction over his team's play on Saturday. He said: "They played much good stuff early in the match, but the St Mirren goalkeeper had one of those days. Then they ran out of steam and were not nearly so good near the end. Of course, the public mainly remember the last half hour."
Bonthrone looks for play from his team to match that of last season, when they won this trophy. The new signing, Drew Jarvie, fitted in well last Saturday and should prove a good buy.
IN FORM CELTIC SCORE SEVEN
Queens Park 1, Celtic 7
Celtic were in top form in the friendly at Lesser Hampden last night, despite the fact that Jimmy Johnstone and Dixie Deans played for only the first 35 minutes, and Danny McGrain for the first half. All three were outstanding. Jim Davidson replaced McGrain, McLaughlin took over from Johnstone and Hancock from Deans.
Deans scored two superb goals. Mally shot the Queen’s goal, but Vic Davidson added a third for Celtic. McNamara followed with a fourth then Quinn made it five. Hood nodded a sixth, and Franchetti shot a seventh.
The Scotsman Thursday 3 August 1972
Heroic Clark’s extra time slip beats Aberdeen
Celtic 3, Aberdeen 2 (After extra time)
John Rafferty, reporting.
If ever a game had everything it was this magnificent it was this Drybrough cup semi-final in which Celtic, in extra-time, earned a final place against Hibs at Hampden Park on Saturday. We would not want to see better football in defence or attack; no better sporting attitude.
There was an extra half-hour in which Aberdeen were leading before Celtic scored twice, and the diversion of the referee being injured and having to leave the field for 15 minutes.
Celtic in the first half, when Johnstone was sharp, could have won handily, but for some professional goalkeeping by Clark. But Aberdeen, with Jarvie, Murray and latterly Buchan, playing magnificently, kept good order and worked back into the game. OnIy Celtic would have caught them in extra time,
HUSH
The Aberdeen defence had peace for as long as it took Johstone to find his touch. And that was not very long.
Then with him performing astonishing feats of trickery through the middle, and Macari and Deans charging on each shoulder, and Dalglish and Callaghan pressing in from behind, there was much action in the Aberdeen penalty area.
Jarvie and Robb tried to work Aberdeen out of subjection. There was a frightening moment when Taylor's hard shot struck McGrain on his head and he was felled. The hush clearly indicated the crowd remembered the Celtic player’s skull fracture, and the referee promptly stopped the game. The back recovered quickly and was none the worse.
The play was fast and coordinated. Celtic were in stirring cup-tie form and had the initiative; but Murray and Robb fought hard in Aberdeen's mid-field to turn the tide, and Jarvie was a good player against heavy odds.
In the fifteenth minute, Johnstone scored a stirring goal. He took a neat pass from Deans, beat Boel, and curled a shot to the far side of the goal that Clark never could judge.
There was a spell then, when Jarvie led Aberdeen to some spirited attacking. Robb and Murray were active, and the Celtic defence was stretched. McNeill did well to nip the ball away from Jarvie; and there was exciting action when Murray and Jarvie were involved in close heading which had Williams scrambling acrobatically, but effectively.
But soon Johnstone was at his tricks again, and when in possession he was unstoppable. Macari had the beating of Young; and, before half-time, there was some bewildering play in front of Clark which inspired continuous cheering but no goals.
SUBSTITUTE
Aberdeen substituted Buchan for Taylor at half-time; but he made no immediate perceptible difference. Celtic's attackers were quickly scurrying and harrying a troubled Aberdeen defence which took much credit for maintaining good order.
Then, in the 59th minute, a satisfying match took on a new aspect. Jarvie took a quick free kick and sent the ball on to Murray. He was harassed near the bye-line, but got the ball back to Buchan, who was unmarked, and he shot a cool goal.
Celtic were roused to furious reaction. Callaghan ran powerfully, Connelly left McNeill's side and that fine back McGrain had control of his sector. It was exhilarating play, with Aberdeen mainly at the receiving end. Clark was cool in anticipation and magnificently safe through it all.
LUCKY CELTIC
Johnstone tired and moved to the left wing, and going into the last quarter-hour the game was more evenly balanced. Celtic were Iucky when Jarvie headed Hermiston's good cross, and Williams stood still to let the ball past. It struck a post.
Them the referee, Mr John Paterson, got in big Willie Young's way at a corner kick and was knocked over the cameramen and injured. He had to retire, and a linesman took over.
Another linesman was found in the stand, and he immediately distinguished himself by signalling offside when Aberdeen thought they had scored.
Celtic substituted Deans for Wilson, and near the end weariness was showing – and little wonder. Both teams had been working harder than one would have thought possible at this time of year.
In the tenth second of extra time, Buchan shot against Williams’s left-hand post. Then Mr Paterson returned to duty. Everything was happening in this magnificent game.
SPECTACULAR
In the fifth minute of extra time, Buchan met Miller's cross at the far post, and headed Aberdeen into the lead. Then in the 18th minute Wilson strode through like a thoroughbred and shot a spectacular goal. And Celtic were level again.
Then with nine minutes to go, when Callaghan moved on to Johnstone's header and half-hit the ball, Clark was deceived and stumbled, and the ball went to the net.
