Celtic on this Day…a few good wins against this weekend’s opponents Hearts among the Celtic highlights..

18 November 2016

Kilmarnock 0-1 Celtic. The start of the Brendan Rodgers era as Celtic boss was flying. As a result of Stuart Armstrong’s finish on the stroke of halftime, the Hoops went 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. Craig Gordon’s clean-sheet in Ayrshire also meant that Celtic had went 688 minutes without losing a domestic goal.

Stuart Armstrong celebrates at Rugby Park on 18 November 2016, Kilmarnock 0 Celtic 1. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Reflecting back, it was a freezing cold Friday night, and it had been an awful game at Rugby Park mainly due to, as always, that disastrous astroturf surface. Rodgers post-match lambasted the fixture scheduling of Celtic having to play on a Friday evening so soon after the international break.

18 November 1972

Celtic’s Kenny Dalglish scores at Celtic Park against Hearts on 18 November 1972. Photo The Celtic Wiki

52 years ago today, Celtic 4-2 Hearts. Despite snow being expected in Glasgow’s East End, 28,000 spectators turned out to watch a fine Scottish Premier Division encounter. Celtic gaffer Jock Stein had to make a number of changes to his team with George Connelly, Billy McNeill, Bobby Murdoch and Lou Macari all absent for the clash versus Hearts.

The Jambos played in distinctive Ajax type strips, something that they only ever wore once at Celtic Park. Truth be told, Jinky should have been sent off after he deliberately tried to stamp on Willie Menmuir in the first half. Stein’s goalscorers on the day; Dalglish, Deans, Jinky and Hood had all taken their chances in front of goal following some smart build up play for all four.

Press cutting – Celtic 4 Hearts 2, 18 November 1972

18 November 2000

: Lubo Moravcik scores, Celtic 6 Hearts 1, 18 November 2000. Photo The Celtic Wiki

: Lubo Moravcik celebrates, Celtic 6 Hearts 1, 18 November 2000. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic 6-1 Hearts. Martin O’Neill’s men remained unbeaten at the start of our scintillating 2000/2001 league campaign thanks to a stunning victory over Hearts. The win meant Celtic created an SPL record at the time of 23 matches without a defeat. If ever there was a game that encapsulated the transformation of the Hoops since the dismal days of the 90s it was this one. Didier Agathe and Bobby Petta on both wings were instrumental in Celtic’s thrashing against the Tynecastle club.

Despite falling behind, five different scorers of Valgaeren, Morvacik, Mjallby, Petrov and a Larsson double gave Antti Niemi a day to forget in the Hearts goal. Celtic would now look forward to an Old Firm battle with Rangers at Ibrox the week after. The less said about the outcome of that, the better.

18 November 2017

18th November 2017, Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall, Scotland; Scottish Premier League football, Ross County versus Celtic; Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths scores the only goal of the game from a free kick. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

7 years ago today, Ross County 0-1 Celtic. With 12 minutes left on the clock of regulation time it was Leigh Griffiths’ spectacular free-kick that sealed the three points for Brendan Rodgers’ side. The victory in Dingwall also extended a record breaking 64 domestic matches unbeaten, a run that would famously last for another month. Celtic’s late win in the Highlands seemed to set them up nicely for a trip to Paris in the Champions League four days later. Or so they had thought…

Leigh Griffiths and Jonny Hayes celebrate — 18th November 2017, Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall, Scotland; Scottish Premier League football, Ross County versus Celtic; Leigh Griffiths leaps to celebrate his goal. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Conor Spence

Matt Corr’s wonderful new books, Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two are both out now on Celtic Star Books and you can order a signed copies by clicking on the links below…