| Match Pictures | Matches: 1980 – 1981 | 1980-81 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic all but clinch the title at Ibrox. Only goal difference can prevent their win.
- Billy McNeill refuses to acknowledge this and will wait for one more point to make it academic.
- Celtic fans stay behind in their thousands to hail the Celts' victory.
- The Govan stand is in the process of being built and this reduces the attendance to 36,000.
- McGrain and Provan are named in the Scotland squad for the WC game against Israel on 25 April.
Review
Celtic are deserved winners with Nicholas' fine second half goal. McNeill pulls a master stroke by playing a back three with MacLeod as a wing back. The extra midfielder gives Celtic midfield control with Tommy Burns again in fine form. Aitken is another Celtic hero when he clears a Redford header off the line near the end with Bonner stranded.
Teams
Celtic Bonner McGrain MacLeod MacDonald McAdam Aitken Provan Conroy McGarvey Burns Nicholas – Subs Doyle Reid
Goals: Nicholas 56
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: B McGinlay
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 18th April 1981
Glasgow Herald 20th April 1981
Nicholas 56
Attendance 36,000
GLASGOW HERALD REPORT BY JIM REYNOLDS
CELTIC IN FULL CONTROL OF QUIET OLD FIRM GAME
One of the quietest Old Firm matches in my experience ended with a tremendous roar from the Celtic fans that threatened to lift the roof off the Ibrox stands. Billy McNeill's men have virtually clinched the League championship.
Celtic won the first battle of the day in the dressing room. McNeill decided, quite rightly, that it was more important not to lose the game, and announced that Tom McAdam and Roddy MacDonald would start the game with Roy Aitken sweeping up from behind. Left back Mark Reid was left out and although Murdo MacLeod wore the number 3 shorts, he performed mostly in the midfield area.
That line up must have thrown Rangers and it worked a treat with the Ibrox front men looking and feeling as if they were playing in a telephone kiosk.
The return of Danny McGrain had a stabilising effect on Celtic and they just did not look like losing the game at any stage.
Manager McNeill agreed afterwards that he never had cause to worry. 'I thought we played very well and were always in control of the situation', he said. 'I felt it was a one off situation and that's why I made the changes I did. It paid off and we deservedly won the game with a great goal'.
Celtic always looked comfortable and when it needed a bit of class to win the points, they provided it in 56 minutes. Provan and Frank McGarvey worked a neat one-two, as Charlie Nicholas ran intelligently into position. When Provan pushed the ball through, the young striker clipped a glorious shot past Jim Stewart.
Celtic were in trouble only once after that when Rangers should have equalised in 65 minutes. Pat Bonner made his only mistake on the day in failing to cut out a high ball, Colin McAdam's effort was knocked off the line by Aitken, and, with the goal wide open, Bett headed against the bar.
Rangers' chance had gone and Celtic virtually cruised to victory for a win that was well deserved. On a day when it mattered Celtic had a fine balance of composure and aggression.
Rangers – Stewart Miller Dawson Johnstone Jackson Bett McLean Russell McAdam Redford Johnston – subs Jardine MacDonald
Celtic – Bonner McGrain MacLeod MacDonald McAdam Aitken Provan Conroy McGarvey Burns Nicholas – subs Doyle Reid