| Match Pictures | Matches: 1978 – 1979 | 1978-79 Pictures |
Trivia
- There was a complicated fixture wrangle about this game. The Dons felt they should be playing their outstanding League game against Rangers on this date. The SFL however brought this game forward from the 21st April (when it was due to be played). The problem was caused by the playing of Scottish Cup Fourth Round ties. The game should have been in Aberdeen but Grampian police could not provide cover so the game went ahead at Celtic Park, despite Aberdeen's protest. Aberdeen had played Partick Thistle at Pittodrie on the Wednesday night, winning and bringing them in to League title contention.
- Celtic played a Friendly against Stirling Albion on the night of 28th at Anfield with a 1-1 score line. Tom McAdam was the Celtic scorer and Kerr scored for Stirling Albion. Alfie Conn played to test his fitness. Conn came through without any problems and he was included in the starting line up at George McCluskey's loss with Joe Filippi and Bobby Lennox on the bench.
- Celtic got the result they wanted because they fought harder.
- It was grim, greetin' faced and often ordinary but it was obvious who had the greater will to win.
- Danny McGrain makes his first league appearance since 1 October 1977 and is given a huge ovation by the Parkhead crowd.
- The first league goal scored at Parkhead since 16th December!
- This was the turning point of the season and would lead to league victory in May.
Review
By Allan Herron, Sunday Mail, the next morning.
The wind played havoc with the loose pass and the pitch had as much grass as a St Andrews bunker. But both sides served up some stirring stuff. The winning goal was no classic, but Alfie Conn took the one clear chance he had in 65 minutes. Sheer pressure from the Parkhead midline gave Provan possession on the right side of the field. A hard low cross and there was Conn with a first-time shot which spun away from Bobby Clark and inside the far post.
Ah, the roar of the crowd – all 26,000 – as Alfie turned in glee with his right arm in the air. The first league goal scored at Parkhead since December 16!
Celtic were back in business again after a close-down of over two months, and their victory puts them right back with a chance of the title. Particularly if they can keep fighting so hard. Though petulant at times – McLelland was booked for a foul on Tommy Burns and Edvaldsson booked for a foul on Gordon Strachan – the game held a lot of good things for Celtic. Like the form of Danny McGrain. He's beginning to look like his old self at right-back and was in fact a better player than the man who replaced him in a Scotland jersey, Stuart Kennedy.
With Celtic pushing forward relentlessly, Bobby Clark was always the busier keeper. his best save came in 29 minutes when he tipped an Edvaldsson hitch-kick over the bar from close range. Seven minutes later I thought the Dons had a fair penalty claim when Edvaldsson challenged Drew Jarvie from behind in the box, but referee Renton waved play on.
When it looked as though we might have to settle for a goal-less affair, Conn made his decisive strike and there was no doubt about the winner after that. Mind you, substitute Joe Harper – he came on for Jarvie in 50 minutes – had a wonderful chance in 72 minutes. he got clear of the Celtic defence two yard from the goal-line only to arm the ball as he tried work in past Latchford.
Ten minutes from the end Davie Provan hit the post with the Dons defence in dreadful trouble. Clark grabbed the rebound and booted the ball away.
Just the result Celtic needed after their enforced close-down, but another set-back for the Dons. They played well below their best and you can't do that away from home and still expect to be title contenders.
Teams
Celtic (4-3-3):-
Latchford, McGrain, MacDonald, Edvaldsson, Lynch, Aitken, Macleod, Burns (Filippi 84), Provan, Conn, Doyle. Sub not used:- Lennox.
Goal:- Conn 65.
Booked:- Edvaldsson.
Aberdeen (4-3-3):-
Clark, Kennedy, Rougvie, Miller, McLelland, Sullivan, McMaster, Strachan (Considine), Archibald, Scanlon, Jarvie (Harper 50).
Booked:- McLelland.
Referee:- J Renton (Cowdenbeath).
Attendance:- 26,000.
Articles
- Match Report(see below)
Pictures
