| Match Pictures | Matches: 1979 1980 | 1979-80 Pictures |
Trivia
- During the week Hearts sacked ex-Scotland manager Willie Ormond. He said he would take them to an industrial tribunal for unfair dismissal.
- An unchanged team for Celtic.
- George Best makes his first competitive appearance against Celtic.
- Best reputed to be on an incredible £1500 per week wages.
- Aberdeen beat Rangers 3-2 at Pittodrie.
- In the Reserve League on the same day Celtic defeated Hibs 6-1 at Celtic Park. The Celtic team was Bonner, McStay, Lynch, Casey, Duffy, Reid, Weir, Edvaldsson, Nicholas, Burns, Halpin Subs Crainie and Feeney. The Celtic scorers were Nicholas 2, Edvaldsson, Reid, Halpin and Burns.
Review
George Best turned out for his first competetive appearance against Celtic in his career. His talent had recently saw Hibs beat Rangers at Easter Road and they were out for an Old Firm double but despite that win they were still anchored in bottom place in the league.
Hibs fielded an attacking line up and took the lead when Best cut in from the left and smashed a shot at goal and although Latchford blocked it he could only help it into the net. At this point Best was running the game but was soon to tire in the freezing conditions.
In 36 minutes Roy Aitken equalised with a delicate glancing headed from Provan's excellent inswinging free kick from the left wing.
Hibs were awarded a penalty before half time when Higgins was adjudged to have been fouled in the area by Sneddon. However Ally MacLeod crashed his shot against the bar and Celtic survived.
In the second half Aitken and MacLeod forced Celtic into the match but John Doyle missed Celtic's best chance after cutting in from the left and firing wide.
The feeling amongst the support was now that Celtic needed to purchase a striker after losing out on Frank McDougall and Willie Pettigrew in the last few months although the papers continued to link the club with Liverpool's out of favour forward, Frank McGarvey.
Teams
Hibernian:
McArthur, Brazil, Lambie, McNamara, Paterson, Rae, Callachan, Macleod, Higgins, Campbell, Best. Subs: J Brown, Hutchinson
Goals: Best (26).
Celtic:
Latchford, Sneddon, McGrain, Aitken, MacDonald, McAdam, Provan, Sullivan, Lennox, MacLeod, Doyle . Subs: McCluskey, Conroy
Goals: Aitken (36)
Referee: B Robertson (East Kilbride)
Attendance: 21,936
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