After a narrow 1-0 victory over 2nd Division strugglers Stranraer in the 3rd Round, Celtic were drawn against Mid-table Hibs. A goalless draw at Celtic Park led to this Easter Road replay, with Celtic running out 1-0 winners. A Billy Stark header was enough to seperate the sides - a typical Stark goal, ghosting into the box and latching onto a rebound. The Quarter Final draw saw Celtic pulled out of the hat alongside first division Partick Thistle.
Thursday, 11 January 2007
Celtic 2 Rangers 0 - 2nd January 1988
By the time Rangers came-a-first-footing on January 2nd, the Ibrox club were still fourth in the league, 5 points behind their Old Firm rivals with one game in hand. Aberdeen had leapfrogged Hearts into second place, just two points back, with Hearts a further point adrift.
Celtic had a chance to put some clear water between themselves and Rangers, and it was a chance they took. A Frank McAvennie double gave Celtic all three points - the first a beautiful sweeping move brilliantly created by Paul McStay's defence splitting pass; the second, a powerful header past a despairing Graham Roberts - finishing his second succesive Glasgow Derby as a makeshift Goalkeeping replacement for Chris Woods, who had been taken off injured earlier in the game. Results elsewhere went Celtic's way, with both Aberdeen and Hearts managing only to draw.
Celtic had a chance to put some clear water between themselves and Rangers, and it was a chance they took. A Frank McAvennie double gave Celtic all three points - the first a beautiful sweeping move brilliantly created by Paul McStay's defence splitting pass; the second, a powerful header past a despairing Graham Roberts - finishing his second succesive Glasgow Derby as a makeshift Goalkeeping replacement for Chris Woods, who had been taken off injured earlier in the game. Results elsewhere went Celtic's way, with both Aberdeen and Hearts managing only to draw.
Celtic 2 Hearts 2 - 12th December 1987
On 28th November, a 1-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road had moved Celtic into top spot on the back of five straight victories. By the time Hearts came visiting in this fixture, they were a single point back in second place, with Aberdeen 3 points back, and Rangers 6 behind. What followed was a performance that epitomised Billy McNeill's Celtic in the Centenary season.
With a first half goal from John Robertson giving the Tynecastle men the lead, it looked like Celtics stay at the top of the league might be short. This was made even more likely when future Celt Mike Galloway double Hearts lead with only 12 minutes remaining. But Celtic had a real fighting spirit about them, and with only 8 minutes left on the clock Andy Walker pulled one back from the Penalty spot (albeit a rather dubious penalty). The comeback was made complete with just seconds to spare - Paul McStay firing in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box to give Celtic a share of the points. Hearts were shocked. Unfortunately for them, they weren't to learn the lesson that you could never write off this Celtic side.
With a first half goal from John Robertson giving the Tynecastle men the lead, it looked like Celtics stay at the top of the league might be short. This was made even more likely when future Celt Mike Galloway double Hearts lead with only 12 minutes remaining. But Celtic had a real fighting spirit about them, and with only 8 minutes left on the clock Andy Walker pulled one back from the Penalty spot (albeit a rather dubious penalty). The comeback was made complete with just seconds to spare - Paul McStay firing in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box to give Celtic a share of the points. Hearts were shocked. Unfortunately for them, they weren't to learn the lesson that you could never write off this Celtic side.
Aberdeen 0 Celtic 1 - 31st October 1987
The 2-2 draw at Ibrox in the second Old Firm game of the season was followed by a dissappointing 2-1 home defeat to Dundee Utd that left Celtic 3 points behind Hearts at the top of the table. However, it would be the last defeat for Billy McNeill's team for six months - 26 league games, 31 in all competitions, would pass before the Hoops would lose another game.
The first game on that run was a 3-2 home win against Falkirk. The second was this tough fixture at Pittodrie against 3rd placed Aberdeen. This short clip shows Frank McAvennie nipping in to score the only goal of the game, keeping Celtic 3 points behind Hearts and 4 ahead of Rangers.
The first game on that run was a 3-2 home win against Falkirk. The second was this tough fixture at Pittodrie against 3rd placed Aberdeen. This short clip shows Frank McAvennie nipping in to score the only goal of the game, keeping Celtic 3 points behind Hearts and 4 ahead of Rangers.
Rangers 2 Celtic 2 - 17th October 1987
By the time the 2nd Old Firm game of the season came about it was Hearts who were setting the pace at the top of the league - Celtic having won two and drawn two of their 4 games since drawing with Aberdeen at Celtic Park. Going into the game, Rangers were still 4 points behind Celtic, 6 behind Hearts.
The game itself would become notorious due to a bust up between Frank McAvennie, Chris Woods and Terry Butcher, with all three being sent off. The incident would eventually end up in the courts, with McAvennie being cleared of any wrongdoing. Celtics goals that day came from Andy Walker and Peter Grant. The clip contains only these two goals, but does include Peter Grant doing an Artur Boruc 20 years too early.
With Hibs beating Hearts in the Edinburgh derby, Celtic would move to within a point of the top of the league.
The game itself would become notorious due to a bust up between Frank McAvennie, Chris Woods and Terry Butcher, with all three being sent off. The incident would eventually end up in the courts, with McAvennie being cleared of any wrongdoing. Celtics goals that day came from Andy Walker and Peter Grant. The clip contains only these two goals, but does include Peter Grant doing an Artur Boruc 20 years too early.
With Hibs beating Hearts in the Edinburgh derby, Celtic would move to within a point of the top of the league.
Celtic 2 Aberdeen 2 - 19th September 1987
Celtic followed up their Old Firm victory over Rangers with a 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie in the League Cup. In the league, a scoreless draw against Dundee United at Tannadice, and a 1-0 win against Falkirk at Brockville moved the Hoops back into top spot, albeit on the same points as both Aberdeen and Hearts. Rangers were climbing steadily up the table, 4 points back in 5th position.
This top of the table clash saw Celtic and Aberdeen fighting out a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park. Goals from Tommy Burns and Billy Stark were cancelled out by the Dons, with future Celt Joe Miller scoring the second equaliser. Miller would be a Celtic player within two months.
The other Aberdeen goal is missing and the order of the goals may be wrong. It was put together from different sources. Can anyone confirm the details for this game?
This top of the table clash saw Celtic and Aberdeen fighting out a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park. Goals from Tommy Burns and Billy Stark were cancelled out by the Dons, with future Celt Joe Miller scoring the second equaliser. Miller would be a Celtic player within two months.
The other Aberdeen goal is missing and the order of the goals may be wrong. It was put together from different sources. Can anyone confirm the details for this game?
Celtic 1 Rangers 0 - 29th August 1987
Celtic's perfect start to the season had come to a grinding halt four games in - the hoops losing a last minute goal in a 2-1 defeat away to Dunfermline. That result allowed Aberdeen to claim top spot in the league with Celtic dropping to 2nd. Next up was Rangers at Celtic Park.
The game was a big test for Billy McNeils rebuilt side and it was one of the new boys, Billy Stark, who would score the decisive goal after only 4 minutes. The game is best remembered for the sending off of Rangers player manager Graeme Souness for an atrocious challenge on the one-booted Stark. The result put Celtic back to the top of the league, although only 1 point seperated 1st from 4th.
The game was a big test for Billy McNeils rebuilt side and it was one of the new boys, Billy Stark, who would score the decisive goal after only 4 minutes. The game is best remembered for the sending off of Rangers player manager Graeme Souness for an atrocious challenge on the one-booted Stark. The result put Celtic back to the top of the league, although only 1 point seperated 1st from 4th.
Celtic 4 Motherwell 1 - 15th August 1987
Celtic started the Centenary season with back to back wins over Morton and Hearts, leaving them a point clear at the top of the Premier League. Next up was Motherwell. Celtic's Andy Walker was up against his old club for the first time since his £350,000 switch to the East End of Glasgow, and he was to make his previous employer's suffer. Walker grabbed a double, with Mark McGhee and Billy Stark also on the scoresheet. Elsewhere, Aberdeen defeated Rangers 2-0 at Pittodrie to leave the Ibrox club 3rd bottom of the league with only a single point from 3 games.
The clip contains no audio, and Motherwell's goal is also missing.
The clip contains no audio, and Motherwell's goal is also missing.
Season 1987-88 Index
Centenary Season stuff
15/08/87 SPL Celtic 4 Motherwell 1
29/08/87 SPL Celtic 1 Rangers 0
19/09/87 SPL Celtic 2 Aberdeen 2
17/10/87 SPL Rangers 2 Celtic 2
31/10/87 SPL Aberdeen 0 Celtic 1
12/12/87 SPL Celtic 2 Hearts 2
02/01/88 SPL Celtic 2 Rangers 0
24/02/88 SC4R Hibs 0 Celtic 1
05/03/88 SPL Celtic 2 Falkirk 0
12/03/88 SCQF Partick Thistle 0 Celtic 3
02/04/88 SPL Hibs 0 Celtic 2
09/04/88 SCSF Celtic 2 Hearts 1
23/04/88 SPL Celtic 3 Dundee 0
14/05/88 SCF Celtic 2 Dundee United 1
Tuesday, 2 January 2007
Happy New Year 1998 Style
Only one clip included for your pleasure today. But I'm sure you'll enjoy it...
Nine years ago today. With half the 1997-98 season gone, Rangers are on course for a tenth straight league title. One point clear of Hearts in second with a game in hand, the Ibrox club are 4 points ahead of Wim Jansen's resurgent Celtic. The Hoops need the win. But they haven't beaten Rangers in the league since May 1995. Ten games have come and gone without a win. That was about to change.
Enjoy.
Nine years ago today. With half the 1997-98 season gone, Rangers are on course for a tenth straight league title. One point clear of Hearts in second with a game in hand, the Ibrox club are 4 points ahead of Wim Jansen's resurgent Celtic. The Hoops need the win. But they haven't beaten Rangers in the league since May 1995. Ten games have come and gone without a win. That was about to change.
Enjoy.
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