| Match Pictures | Matches: 1992 – 1993 | 1992-1993 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic play in smart new green and black away strip for the first time.
- In the Reserve League Celtic defeated Airdrie 5-1 at Celtic Park. The Celtic team was Bonner, Smith, McNally, Melly, McQuilken, Dolan, Vata, R. McStay, Gray, Nicholas, Coyne Subs Donaghy and McCarrison. The Celtic scorers were Coyne 15 & 43 pens, Nicholas 37, Vata 87, McStay 90. The Airdrie scorer was Harvey.
This was the second season under the management of Liam Brady.
Quite a few players had left or were about to leave or were in contract negotiations. Chris Morris had been swapped with Middlesbrough for Andy Payton, despite Morris saying that he didn't want to leave. Derek Whyte who was out of contract was also sold to Middlesbrough. Peter Grant and Tommy Coyne were both signing month-to-month deals. Martin Hayes who failed to start a first team game this season would be sold to Swansea in January. Fulton would be sold at the end of the season. Rudi Vata – Albanian football refugee – had just been signed but was not ready for the first team and Frank McAvennie would return to the Hoops in December '92 – by which time it was apparent that the team lacked fire power up front.
Celtic were due to play FC Koln away in the following week in their UEFA Cup Rd1 first leg game.
Review
Andy Payton's first goal for the Hoops. A to-and-fro game with Airdrie starting the game really well – they would end the season bottom of the league and relegated. Celtic had yet to lose a game in the League, however, despite this they sat in fourth place after 6 games on 8pts with a goal difference of 3, below Dundee Utd (9pts +3), Rangers (8 pts +4), and Hearts (8 pts +4)
Teams
Airdrie: Martin, Kidd (Conn, 50), Stewart, Sandison, Caesar, Black, Boyle, Balfour, Lawrence, Coyle, Honor
Unused Sub: Kirkwood
Scorer: Boyle, 63
Celtic: Marshall, Boyd, Wdowczyk, Grant, Mowbray, Galloway, Miller (Slater, 60), McStay, Payton, Creaney, Collins
Unused Sub: Fulton
Scorer: Payton, 20
Att: 10,500
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Articles
from the Evening Times by John Quinn
Andy's So Handy
And Liam Brady's troops showed that they were ready to stretch their unbeaten run to 10 games right from the start.
The new look Celts ran out at Broomfield in their continental style away strip which was being unveiled for the first time.
But the pattern of the play from Liam Brady's team was similar to the one which has swept along on their purple patch.
The sound of the whistle had hardly faded before Andy Payton showed a fine burst of speed down the right wing.
The new Bhoy left his markers trailing before firing over a cross which was meant for Gerry Creaney at the back post.. But Airdrie keeper John Martin raced out to clear.
Celtic were going for a quick kill and Paul McStay flighted in a free kick which was scrambles clear to Creaney. The striker, with seven goals to his credit, tried an ambitious overhead kick which swept just past the post.
Airdrie refused to sit back and Tony Mowbray was forced to Coyle cross out for a corner. Lawrence's subsequent effort caused Marshall no problem.
The Diamonds were being watched by their European Cup Winners Cup opponents Sparta Prague and they must have been impressed by the Broomfield side's work-rate and aggression.
But it was Celtic that were carving out the better chances and Creaney showed some fine close control before firing in a left foot shot. Martin was again well placed to save. Celtic's Polish international Dariusz Wdowczyk has been causing problems to teams this season with his inswinging corner kicks. And in the 13th minute he came within inches of giving Celtic the lead. John Collins and Paul McStay stood over the ball as Celtic were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Collins tapped it to Wdowczyk whose powerful drive drifted inches past Martin's left hand post.
Airdrie were quick to retaliate and minutes later Sandy Stewart drilled in a superb shot from 25 yds which brought out a tremendous finger tip save from Marshall.
But Celtic grrabbed a deserved lead in the 20th minute when ANDY PAYTON hit a marvelous opening goal.
Wdowczyk swept the ball into the path of the sprinting Payton. The bounce baffled Airdrie but not PAytonwho took it on the drop to rifle a superb shot past MArtin from the edge of the area.
Celtic were now firing on all cylinders and minutes later Creaney burst through to sweep a powerful right foot shot inches over the bar.
One of the features of thois lively and entertaining clash was the contrasting midfield styles with the silky McStay and Collins on one side and the battling Evan Balfour and Kenny Black on the other. And Airdrie's twin strikers in Owen Coyle and Allan Lawrence were fighting hard to get the better of the powerful Celtic defensive partnership of Mike Galloway and Tony Mowbray.
Indeed the Airdrie strike force almost caught the Celtic defense square when Coyle threaded a superb pass through for the lightning fast Lawrence.The Airdrie front man was marginally off side.
Still the Diamonds tried to force their way back into the game and a Kenny Black cross meant for Coyle brought out a superb save from Marshall. With Celtic taking their foot off the pedal Airdrie had come back into the game as an attacking force.
But Celtic soon stepped up the pressure and Martin had to make a superb save to deny danger man Payton after Creaney had put the striker through on goal.
Minutes later Joe Miller picked out Payton as his target with a cross from the right wing but the ball skidded off the surface and away from the Celtic front man.
There was a tough edge creeping into the game just before half time and within the space of a few seconds Peter Grant was booked for a foul on Walter Kidd and then Sandy Stewart was booked for persistent fouling.
Airdrie resumed the second half intent on getting back into the game but it was still Celtic that had the better scoring opportunities in the second half. Payton was fired up to add to his tally and Caesar had to head one of his efforts away for a corner.Again Celtic used the power and accuracy of Wdowczyk at the set piece and itt was only cleared at the second attempt by Sandison.
Both trainers had to race on after 50 minutes when Gus Caesar and Walter Kidd were injured in a clash of heads. Kidd had to leave the field to be replaced by Sammy Conn.
Celtic sent on record-signing Stuart Slater for Joe Miller on the hour but Airdrie's persistence told on 63 minutes when Jimmy Boyle drove a low shot past Marshall for the equaliser.