| Match Pictures | Matches: 1977 – 1978 | 1977-78 Pictures |
Trivia
- Aitken and Casey were selected for Scotland U21s to face Wales on the 8th February. They lost 1-0. The full Scotland pool for Argentina contained no Celts!
- Ex-Celt Bobby Collins was sacked as manager of Hull City
- Celtic were due to face Partick Thistle in the League on the 11th but heavy snow fell and frost affected all games. The Celtic – Clydebank League game on the 14th was also off. They were due to face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup Fourth Round on the 18th and again on the 21st. That too was called off. The thaw set in on the 22nd.
- Andy Lynch had undergone an operation for appendicitis. He would be out for a while. The long-term injury list from start of season saw Stanton, McGrain, Conn, Burns and Doyle all out for extended periods.
- Bobby Lennox stated he would leave at the end of March to play in the States for Houston Hurricanes for a 5 month season. He left on loan with full Celtic approval.
- Ronnie Glavin was added to the injury list
- Celtic now slump to 8th place in the league.
- Edvaldsson plays in the unusual number 7 shorts and Aitken at number 10.
- Joe Jordan, Gordon McQueen and Lou Macari promise to play in Pat Stanton's testimonial in April.
- In the Reserve League Celtic lost 6-1 to St Mirren at Love Street. The Celtic team was Baines, Mackie, Kay, Temperley, McWilliams, Ward, Gibson, Craig, Lennox, Dowie, McCluskey. Subs Doyle and Conn. The Celtic scorer was Lennox.
- Gordon McQueen became the domestic British transfer record when he was transferred from Leeds Utd to Manchester Utd for £500,000. Liverpool had previously sold Kevin Keegan to Hamburg for £500,000 in June 1977.
Review
On a horrible day of weather Celtic lose for the second time this season at home to St Mirren. Frank McGarvey is fast becoming the hottest property in Scottish football and he rips the Celtic defence apart. Celtic supporters' mood matches the winter weather – bleak.
Celtic had started well with close efforts from McCluskey and Aitken. But gradually St Mirren found their feet in the soggy conditions and only Latchford and frantic defending kept the Buddies out till the half hour. Then McGarvey made the break and ex-Celt Jimmy Bone deflected a Fitzpatrick shot past Latchford. Though Celtic fought back, Hunter was a wall in the St Mirren goal.
Celtic came out looking to get back on even terms but a breakaway saw Latchford make a double save and from a resulting corner McGarvey scored. Aitken was booked; Edvaldsson missed a sitter. Stein made the substitutions and finally McCluskey pulled one back after good work from McAdam. There was still time for an incredible miss from Paul Wilson.
Wilson's late sitter in front of goal sums up Celtic's day as the fans howl with derision.
The end of the month table did not look good.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| Rangers | 25 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 58 | 28 | +30 | 40 |
| Aberdeen | 25 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 41 | 21 | +20 | 34 |
| Dundee Utd | 23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 17 | +10 | 26 |
| Partick Thistle | 23 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 31 | 35 | -4 | 24 |
| Motherwell | 25 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 33 | 34 | -1 | 23 |
| St Mirren | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 35 | 38 | -3 | 21 |
| Hibernian | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 23 | -3 | 20 |
| Celtic | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 32 | 33 | -1 | 19 |
| Ayr Utd | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 42 | -18 | 19 |
| Clydebank | 23 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 42 | -30 | 10 |
Teams
Celtic:
Latchford, Sneddon, Burns, Munro, MacDonald, Filippi, Edvaldsson (Casey), McAdam, G McCluskey, Aitken, Conn (Wilson)
Scorer: McCluskey (72)
St Mirren:
Hunter, Docherty, Beckett, Fitzpatrick, Reid, Copland, McGarvey, Abercrombie, Bone, Munro, Torrance. Subs: McAveety, Stark
Scorers: Bone (31), McGarvey (51)
Referee: R B Valentine (Dundee)
Attendance: 22,000
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
