| Match Pictures | Matches: 1977 – 1978 | 1977-78 Pictures |
Trivia
- Things were at a low ebb at the club as Celtic left for Seamills on the Monday to prepare for the game. Stanton and McGrain out injured; Doyle, Lynch and Conn just back from injury. Craig restored but playing indifferently. Celtic went into the game on a terrible run of 2 league wins in their first 9 league games.The team were short of confidence and Jock Stein insisted that this was what was really needed, not new signings.
- New signings Munro and McAdam were ineligible.
- The Austrians arrived on the Monday and trained at Celtic Park on Monday night and Tuesday and were guests at Ibrox on Tuesday night for the Rangers against Partick Thistle in a Glasgow Cup game.
- Celtic's first European tie against Austrian opposition.
- Upper stand was all ticket only and ticket stubs from this game are very rare.
- Roy Aitken plays at right back after Danny McGrain broke down in training.
- Johnny Doyle won his appeal against his sendiong off at Ayr on the 20th August.
- Alfie Conn taken off injured after coming on as a substitute. He had only just come back after cartilage surgery.
Review
Missed chances cost Celtic badly and they badly missed the experience of the injured Stanton and McGrain.
Celtic started in fine fashion and Edvaldsson hit the post with a thudding header and Craig had a miss from 5 yards as they stormed the Austrian goal although Aitken had to head Welzl's lob off the line.
Wilson shot past after a great run and Doyle tripped over the ball when clean through on goal but the elusive first goal would not come.
Craig scored early in the second half after Edvaldsson had headed on Doyle's corner but the Austrians were disciplined and dangerous on the break and they equalised with a header from their captain Kreiss who was left unmarked at Oberacher's free kick.
Alfie Conn came on as a substitute but was carried off after a vicious tackle by Scwarz who should have been sent off.
Celtic laid siege to the Innsbruck goal and Burns scored an excellent goal after the ball broke to him in the area. Young Burns celebrated passionately with fans in the Jungle and his goal gave Celtic a narrow one goal advantage to take to Austria although Latchford had to block Welzl twice before full time.
Although the Austrians were an unknown quantity Koncillia, Pezzey, Stering and Oberacher all had fine displays for Austria in the 1978 World Cup.
Teams
Celtic:
Latchford, Aitken, Lynch, Edvaldsson, MacDonald, Casey, Doyle, Glavin, Craig, Burns, Wilson (Conn) (Lennox). Subs: Baines Kay, Mackie
Scorers: Craig (49), Burns (78)
SSW Innsbruck:
Koncillia, Kreiss, Constantini, P Schwarz, Pezzey, Stering, Zanon, Forstinger, Welzl, W Schwarz, Oberacher
Scorer:- Kreiss (54)
Referee: Nyhus (Norway)
Attendance: 30,000
Articles
- Match Report(see below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 20th October 1977
