Early in the second half, Roy Aitken fouled United’s speed demon, Kevin Gallacher, on the edge of the box with the referee dishing out a yellow card. This was to prove costly later in the game for Aitken and Celtic. Incidentally, the United striker himself has a direct connection with Celtic Football Club through his famous grandfather, Patsy Gallacher, a club legend and scorer of an incredible cup final goal in 1925, somersaulting with the ball trapped between his feet and over the line and into the net. I’m sure VAR these days would find a way of ruling that out for some misdemeanour or other.
1988: Tosh McKinlay of Dundee United with Paul McStay and Tommy Burns of Celtic during the Scottish Cup Final match at Hampden Celtic won the match 2-1 Photo Allsport UK /Allsport
United’s free kick from Eamonn Bannon found a way through the wall but McKnight managed to cover the post and dive to his left to make the save. Shortly after that, Celtic were in trouble. A through ball played towards the Celtic backline and Gallacher raced on to it. Aitken can’t keep up with him and he can’t touch him, having already received a yellow card. I’m sure the memory of his red card in the 1984 cup final must have been on his mind as Gallacher streaked away and struck a beauty into the top corner. United were ahead.
At this point, you wonder if it’s going to be our day but then you remember the semi-final and think that anything is possible. That seemed to be the feeling as the huge Celtic crowd roared on the Bhoys before the match restarted. It felt as if the place was shaking. It felt as if Celts had scored the opening goal and not Dundee United. With this backing anything is possible. We couldn’t do it again. Could we?
I mind it well… but I mind more the scary surge to get through the turnstyle’s before kick-off!!