| Match Pictures | Matches: 1975 – 1976 | 1975-76 Pictures |
Trivia
- Estimated 6000 Celtic fans in the near 10,000 crowd
- Bad weather keeps attendance down on the night
- The match had been agreed with Portsmouth manager, ex-Motherwell and Liverpool Ian St John to raise funds for Portsmouth who were in dire financial straits. St John had recently cut the playing staff at the south coast club to 18 players.
Review
With Doyle and Dalglish used through the centre Celtic maintained their standards and played well.
Teams
Portsmouth:
Figgins (Lloyd), Ellis (Denyer), Wilson, Roberts, Went, Cahill, McGuinness, Piper (Eames), Foster (McParland), Kamara, Mellows.
Goal: Mellows (31)
Celtic:
Latchford, McGrain, Lynch, Glavin, MacDonald, P McCluskey (Aitken), Wilson, Dalglish, Doyle, Burns, Lennox (G McCluskey).
Goals: Doyle (15), Lennox (25), Glavin (61), Aitken (66), Dalglish (77), G McCluskey (88).
Referee: D Nippard (Bournemouth)
Attendance: 9,279
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
FROM 'PORTSMOUTH NEWS' NEWSPAPER:
Celtic last night ruthlessly underlined the warning Ian St John had issued in recent weeks – that Celtic don't play friendlies.
The mighty Glasgow side crushed heir hosts in an entertaining match at Fratton Park- but a match where the edge was always showing.
Only briefly when the Scots had cruised into an early two goal lead did the Celts ease off slightly and by half time they might have been caught.
They must have caught a blast from manger Jock Stein for there was no slacking in the second half as their silky skills tore a re-jigged Pompey apart and brought four more goals.
It was in fact a devastating and delightful display of skillful soccer and one which deserved more an audience of more than 9279.
That is perhaps the saddest thing about it – the net gate for this match after Celtic's small fee and expenses was £4500. Not the sum to keep the looming financial wolf from Pompey's door.
That is carping; the night which produced it was a night when skills predominated. Despite the size of the scoreline it was not a night without hope for Pompey.
There was a fighting display from Chris Kamara who underlined the tremendous potential Pompey have unearthed. There was also a fine 45 minute display from Phil Figgins who must surely be number one choice for goalkeeper next season.
The night also highlighted the inherent problem in the side, the absence to finish off what is created.
Although on the receiving end for long periods Pompey still managed to create openings yet they rarely managed to force Scottish – Anglo keeper Peter Latchford into action.
Figgins' hard work started in the 13th minute when he had a fine parry from the delicately, deadly Kenny Dalglish.
Two minutes later he was beaten as a long, hopeful through ball from Pat McCluskey caught the defence without cover and little John Doyle whipped away to hit home his first senior goal since his recent £90,000 move from Ayr United.
Two minutes later Figgins brilliantly beat away a fierce cross shot from Paul Wilson but in the 26th minute defensive uncertainty between Paul Went and Peter Ellis let the menacing Bobby Lennox in to accept a gift golden chance.
It convinced Celtic they were in easy street as they became casual and over complex and Pompey, working hard, forced their way into the game in the 31rst minute as Micky Mellows effectively tucked away Bobby McGuinness's pass.
For the rest of the half Celtic were under pressure and in the last minute Latchford just managed to beat away a fierce Steve Foster shot after a goal mouth scramble.
It changed after the interval, Celtic were now playing for real and Pompey's hopes of holding the Scottish giants were destroyed by two goals in three minutes.
Grahame Lloyd, who had replaced Figgins, had already made a great ave from the aggressive Ronnie Glavin when the dark haired midfielder popped up to make it 3-1 after Wilson's shot had came crashing off the woodwork.
That was in the 61rst minute and seconds later Lloyd made another great save from Glavin. In the 64th minute substitute defender Roy Aitken linked with to race through a flat footed defence to make it 4-1.
Quickly Pompey might have pulled one back but McGuiness's shot merely ended in the side netting after Latchford merely palmed away a cross from substitute Billy Eames. In 70 minutes, Dalglish, the man whose goal beat England on Saturday, underlined his rare ability with a devastating goal. Taking a pass from Wilson just outside the area he spotted Lloyd off his line and with deadly delicacy chipped it just under the bar.
Glavin was still thundering through looking for goals and was still being foiled by Lloyd. Then in 78 minutes manager St John allowed sentiment to rule and he brought 17 year old Celtic worshiper Paddy McParland as sub and the little Scot's first touch looked a goal until a defender deflected it away.
The last word lay with Celtic and another substitute, George McCluskey, profited from a moment's hesitation by Lloyd to force home the sixth.
A lesson to learn – St John
Pompey came in for withering criticism after game from manager Ian St John.
'Celtic were terrific, absolutely terrific, and I'm delighted the match went that way.'
'It may prove to some of my big time Charlie's the level they are playing at and how much they have to learn.'
'Before the match some of them knew nothing about Scottish football but they weren't prepared to,listen to me.'
'I told them Celtic would work had, come down here to win – perhaps they have learned a lesson tonight.'
'Too many of my players thought they were doing me a favour coming in and training for this match but Celtic had world class players out there willing to play as if it were a cup final.'
'Look at Danny McGrain. On Saturday he played against England, he played again on Moday night yet at the death tonight he was willing to race the length of the field just to link up the play – that's the kind of attitude you have to have.'
'Obviously we are disappointed at the gate, you get people who will travel 500 miles and others who won't come round the corner.But those who stayed away were the losers. This was tremendous entertainment.'
'I didn't expect people to come and see us I thought they would come to see Celtic. I'm sure those who did are glad they took the trouble. That was a world class performance.'
