Calum1916 Search: from Derby Daze as Celtic head to Firhill By: Kenny McKay on 26 Oct, 2013 15:31 THIS weekend sees the return of the Glasgow derby between Celtic and Partick Thistle, as the champions make the short trip to the north of the city. Having made a decent start to life back in the top league of Scottish football, Partick Thistle will face the tall task of recording their first home league win of the season against the Scottish champions, while Celtic will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten run in the league. Ahead of the first Glasgow derby of the new season, we take a look back at some previous encounters... February 22, 2004 Partick Thistle 1-4 Celtic The last league meeting between the sides was one that made a bit of a dent in the history books as Martin O’Neill’s Celtic team recorded their 24th successive league victory and in doing so, they shattered Morton’s 40-year-old record. As a team in fine form, the Bhoys never looked in any real danger of dropping points at Firhill after Chris Sutton broke the deadlock with a trademark header from Alan Thompson’s delivery. Stan Varga soon doubled the Hoops’ lead before former Celt Gerry Britton pulled one back for the Jags, but that was as good as it got for the home side as both Sutton and Varga got on the scoresheet once again. And with the points safe, both sets of supporters were treated to the sight of former Celtic player Jorge Cadete coming on for Thistle. April 27, 1996 Partick Thistle 2-4 Celtic During a season where Tommy Burns’ Celtic won plaudits for their attractive style as they chased Rangers at the top of the league table, a spring day at Firhill had the early signs of a slip-up for the Bhoys. Goals from Andy Lyons and Nicky Henderson gave the home side an unexpected lead at half-time, with Pierre van Hooijdonk’s solitary goal giving Celtic something to build from. What followed was a classic second-half display from the Hoops with Jorge Cadete equalising. As Celtic continued to attack down the left, Andy Thom was brought down in the box, allowing van Hooijdonk a chance to double his tally for the day. The scoring for Celtic was rounded off by an unexpected source as Malky Mackay nodded home from a corner to make the points safe after an early scare. September 10, 1994 Partick Thistle 1-2 Celtic A journey to Maryhill awaited a new-look Celtic side as they embarked on the 1994/95 season under new manager Tommy Burns. While Andy Walker settled back into the team, all eyes were on fellow new signing and reigning Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year, Phil O’Donnell, as he made his competitive bow. While Walker had arrived from Bolton Wanderers ahead of the former Motherwell man, O’Donnell was considered as Burns first signing and many were expecting to see whether he could bring his quality form from the Steelmen to the Bhoys. Early in the game, any worries about whether O’Donnell could cut it as a Celtic player were soon put to bed as he bagged two goals to secure the points for Celtic and ensure a fantastic debut. January 30, 1978 Partick Thistle 0-4 Celtic A game that seemed to feature everything in a frantic 90 minutes – red cards, missed penalties, heavy rain, calls for abandonment and also, some good goals. A dogged Partick Thistle, under the management of Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld, went into the game looking to stop Celtic from playing their usual way. However, it was left to Tommy Burns to twist his way through their defence to deliver the opening goal and very soon after, his and Celtic’s second. Yet that was as good as it got for Burns as he was sent off for tangling with Thistle’s Colin McAdam, leaving both teams down to 10 men in the increasingly heavy rain. The dismissal of Bobby Houston made the task all the tougher for Thistle and the game was all but over when Roddie MacDonald was quickest to react from a deflected Johannes Edvaldsson shot. As the rain turned the pitch from grass to mud, the referee ignored calls for the match to be abandoned, leaving just enough time for Tom McAdam to seal the victory for Celtic. November 17, 1973 Celtic 7-0 Partick Thistle This game will always be remembered for the actions of one man – Dixie Deans. During a virtuoso display for the Bhoys at Celtic Park, the striker set a new post-war record as he spearheaded the destruction of the Jags. In front of a 22,000 strong crowd, Dixie’s performance was watched by the legendary Jimmy McGrory as he went close to equalling the Celtic legend’s record of eight goals in a single game. Midway through the first half, Deans had already notched up his first hat-trick of the day and he duly repeated the feat in the second. His achievement was also sportingly marked by both sets of players who all autographed the match ball and presented it to him. Having scored so many memorable goals for Celtic and picked up plenty of silverware, Deans remarked recently that the match ball remains one of his ‘favourite mementos from my playing days.’
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 15:23:20 +0000
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