| Match Pictures | Matches: 1987 – 1988 | 1987-1988 Pictures |
Trivia
- McAvennie was suspended following the previous week's shenanigans at Ibrox which saw him, Woods and Butcher sent off and lead to further proceedings from m'learned friends.
- Allen McKnight and Anton Rogan were dropped after the Old Firm game, Pat Bonner winning the GK's jumper back and Derek Whyte reverting to left back. Aitken dropped back to partner Mick McCarthy at the centre of defense.
- Dugald McCarrison made his Celtic debut.
Review
Dugald McCarrison's first team debut, a poor performance at home which had McNeill raging, but it was to be the last defeat for some time the team going on a great run to lose only one other game before the end of the season and take the title.
Described as a sad, brittle Celtic performance where the team looked ready to fold at any moment. McStay commanded the midfield and was having probably his best season to date – both for Celtic and for Scotland. Celtic looked without any bite up front and without attacking support from midfield despite starting the first half as the better team forcing two early quick corners. Most of the time the ball was being lost in midfield to the Arabs. After 18 minutes McStay hit the post and that was about the sum total of the Celtic threat. On 25 minutes Whyte and McStay contrived a move to put Walker in but he managed to scoop it over the bar from 2 yards. Dundee Utd pulled themselves into it with Bowman and French both being denied by saves from Bonner in the first half. The teams went in at half time with the score even at 0-0
Celtic searched for a goal in the second half but just couldn't find the breakthrough. On 49 minutes a Morris cross fell to Archdeacon whose shot was blocked. Celtic attempted to up the pace and Thomson had to make a good save from a Peter Grant shot. There was a weak appeal for a penalty on 56 minutes when McStay and Bowman tangled, which was waved away by referee Cummings. Tony Shepherd replaced Billy Stark on 69 minutes. Dundee Utd were looking the stronger and more competent side and on 79 minutes a Kinnaird corner fell to Clark who slotted it home for the first goal. On 88 minutes the ball fell to Ferguson completely unmarked on the edge of the area who fired home the second. Shepherd grabbed a consolation goal on 89 minutes
Archdeacon was targetted by the fans and received a barrage of barracking. McCarrison looked OK and somewhat better in the second half but couldn't get away from the fact that he was a 17 year old thrown into the fray – and looked it.
Teams
Bonner, Morris, Whyte, Aitken, McCarthy, Grant, Stark (Shepherd), McStay, McCarrison, Walker, Archdeacon
Non-Used Sub: Rogan
Scorer: Shepherd (89)
Dundee Utd:
Thomson, Bowman, Malpas, McInally, Hegarty, Narey, Ferguson, Bannon, Clark, French, Irvine
Subs: Curran, Kinnaird
Goals: Clark, Ferguson
Attendance: +/- 31,000
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
