For all of you sitting at home self-isolating, working from home or just keeping a low profile, why not take a bit of time off from that list of jobs, grab a cuppa and take a wee trip down memory lane?
Three games for you from this day, 20 March. One from Ibrox in the eighties, one from Celtic Park in the nineties and a brilliant away win at Anfield on the way to Seville in the noughties.
First up a Celtic team inspired by a breathless performance by captain Paul McStay wins 2-1 at Ibrox on 20 March 1988, on the march to the Centenary Double. Goals from McStay and Andy Walker win a pulsating encounter.
Even watching the highlights will leave you short of breath. Whether it’s breaking up play, driving Celtic forward or scoring an absolute belter of a goal, it’s a joy to watch The Maestro running the show, and at the same time listen to commentator Jock Brown try and undermine his performance. I wonder why he didn’t quite fit in at Celtic.
Next up the Celts end Rangers 44 game unbeaten run in a 2-1 win at Celtic Park on 20 March 1993. This time the goals come from the right boot of John Collins- yes really – and an Andy Payton poachers strike.
You also get to see the look of angst on Ally McCoist’s face as a chance at the death for a Rangers equaliser goes a begging. Just beautiful. Have a look out for the foul on the box on Andy Payton from John Brown too and the referee ignore it completely.
Honest mistakes since 1888.
And finally for many Celtic’s best win on the road, as Celtic upset the odds and win 2-0 at Anfield on 20th March 2003 to knock the mighty Liverpool out the UEFA Cup, as all roads led to Seville.
First comes the clever daisy cutter free kick from Alan Thompson’s wand of a left foot, before John Hartson nearly uproots the goalposts from the ground with an absolute peach of a second goal.
This is the game Henrik Larsson said he knew Celtic would win after hearing Martin O’Neill’s pre match pep talk. Not many outside Celtic gave us a hope that night after drawing the first leg 1-1 at Celtic Park.
I think a certain Mr Souness thought the same when we went to Ewood Park and the Celtic Bhoys overturned his Blackburn men. I’m certain with his Liverpool connections, Souness didn’t enjoy this one much either.
Social distancing, self-isolation and empty supermarkets may not be a lot of fun but treat yourselves to this wee treble and forget about it all for a while.
Stay safe everyone and take care of each other.
Niall J
And as an added bonus here’s one from the 1970s…
20th March 1974, Celtic beat FC Basel 4:2 at Celtic Park, 6:5 on aggregate.
Dalglish, Deans, Callaghan and an Extra-Time winner from Murray send Celtic into the European Cup Semi-Finals. pic.twitter.com/PKFq7QG4mb
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe85) March 20, 2020
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