| Match Pictures | Matches: 1979 – 1980 | 1979-80 Pictures |
Trivia
- Before the game Billy McNeill was quoted as saying, "If we don't win this one then we don't deserve to win the League." The importance of this game was paramount.
- McNeill waited to the last moment to call the team. Bobby Lennox was out injured. In came Tommy Burns from the start. McGarvey was dropped to the bench with George McCluskey starting and with Alan Sneddon out Murdo MacLeod dropped back and Mike Conroy, who had been out injured for much of the season came in for his first start in midfield since January.
- Fourth defeat in last five league games.
- Latchford saved a Strachan penalty or it would have been worse.
- 48,000 fans turn out.
- Gordon Strachan of Aberdeen won the Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year award.
Review
A nightmare from start to finish. Individual mistakes were made all over the park from Latchford's blunder which cost the killer third goal to the toothless forward line who carried no threat. Four players were booked in a game that carried a degree of menace and malice – MacDonald ans Aitken for Celtic and Strachan and Watson for Aberdeen.
Archibald got the first picking up on a saved McGhee shot from a Strachan corner whilst the Celtic defense ball watched. McCluskey levelled it from the spot after he was cut down by McLeish. Latchford then saved a soft penalty awarded to Aberdeen on 30 minutes. Right at the end of the first half the defense was asleep again when Kennedy crtossed for McGhee to head home.
It was Strachan who got the killer third which had more of the goalkeeper error about it than Latchford would have liked.
Strachan is now fast turning into the best player in Scotland by a distance. He was virtually unstoppable and every Aberdeen attack went through him. His dribbling, distribution and movement was magnificent.
Aberdeen now odds on for first title since 1955, going above Celtic on goal difference.
Teams
Celtic:
Latchford, McGrain, MacLeod, Aitken, MacDonald, McAdam, Provan, Conroy (McGarvey), McCluskey, Burns, Doyle Subs: Casey
Goal: McCluskey (pen 10)
Aberdeen:
Clark, Kennedy, Rougvie, Watson, McLeish, Miller, Strachan, Archibald, McGhee, MacMaster, Scanlon. Subs: Hamilton, Bell
Goal: Archibald (8), McGhee (45), Strachan (64)
Referee: D Downie (Edinburgh)
Attendance: 48,000
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Articles
