| Match Pictures | Matches: 1980 – 1981 | 1980-81 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic lose 4-1 on aggregate. Dundee Utd will now face Dundee in the final at Dens Park.
- Celtic win a club v country tussle with Ireland who required Pat Bonner for a game against Cyprus in Dublin.
Review
Celtic got off to a bad start and, ultimately, were comprehensively beaten by Dundee United who deserved their place in the final.
United had played magnificently from start to finish and the slick, quick football of the Tannadice side had Celtic's defence in trouble from the kick off. United used the wet, greasy conditions to their advantage with their quick passing and fine movement.
In 4 minutes Bannon passed to Payne on the left and his cross was whipped past Bonner by Pettigrew. Celtic rallied for a spell and before half time McAdam went close with a header and and McAlpine blocked a McGarvey shot on the line with his foot.
Nine minutes after the interval United went two up and killed the tie when Bannon's low cross was brilliantly flicked into the net by Sturrock. Celtic now fell to pieces and seconds later Payne hit the bar with a header and in 80 minutes Dodds headed in a perfectly flighted cross from the irrepressible Sturrock.
The Celtic fans stayed to the end and sang constantly in favour of their team even as the goals were flying in against them. The Jungle area of the ground was in full voice until the final whistle, mostly in defiance, and after the game United manager Jim McLean was moved to praise the conduct of the Celtic fans for their loyalty and the sporting manner in which they accepted their team's defeat.
Teams
Celtic:- Bonner, McGrain, Reid, Aitken, McAdam, Weir, Provan, McCluskey (MacDonald), McGarvey (Doyle), Burns, Nicholas.
Dundee United:- McAlpine, Holt, Kopel, Philip, Hegarty, Narey, Bannon, Payne, Pettigrew, Surrock, Dodds Subs: Kirkwood Stark
Subs:-
Goals:- Pettigrew 4, Sturrock 54, Dodds 80.
Ref:-
Att:- 21,000.
Articles
- Match Report
- Manager Interview
Pictures
Stats
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