Celtic on this Day – Sutton and Larsson score, so does John Collins, Craig Burley and Shunsuke Nakamura…
Olivier Ntcham’s long-range effort
7 years ago today, Celtic 1-0 Dundee. An under-strength Brendan Rodgers side extended their domestic unbeaten run to 59 games and kept themselves top of the Premiership table over Aberdeen on goal difference. Olivier Ntcham’s long-range effort was enough to seal three points.
Sutton and Larsson secured the victory
14 October 2000, Celtic 2-0 St Mirren. The deadly combination of Sutton and Larsson secured the victory in a tense affair. It was also a Celtic debut for Didier Agathe, who impressed down the right flank. Speculation surrounding the match had been about future Hoops goalkeeper Rab Douglas. Celtic, Rangers and Southampton were all battling it out for the Dundee shotstopper. Famously, there was drama elsewhere in Scottish football that weekend. Jim McLean vented his anger on BBC Scotland reporter John Barnes after asking questions that the then Dundee United chairman did not like. He resigned the next day.
Collins and Pierre were on target
29 years ago today, Celtic 2-2 Hibs. Alex Millar’s side were draw specialists in the mid 90s and it undoubtedly proved to be one of the main factors for the Edinburgh side not mounting a sufficient challenge at the top end of the table. Collins and Pierre were on target as Tommy Burns’ side lacked control and conviction – a summation of their 1995/1996 campaign where they fell short of the league title.
Celtic’s match-winner Craig Burley
14 October 1997, Celtic defeated Dunfermline 1-0 in the Scottish League Cup semi-final at Ibrox. Hampden was out of commission and under reconstruction therefore that is why the match was played elsewhere. Craig Burley’s superb goal with 20 minutes to play broke the spirited resistance of the Fifers who competed for large spells of the game. Speaking after the victory, match-winner Burley said, “It has been a great week so far, with Scotland qualifying for the World Cup and now Celtic in a cup final.” Wim Jansen’s side would go onto face Dundee United in the final.
The King of Japan Shunsuke Nakamura took the match-ball home
18 years ago today, Dundee United 1-4 Celtic. Gordon Strachan’s men started the 06/07 campaign positively, winning the first Old Firm game of the season at Celtic Park in September. A defiant performance at Old Trafford was followed up by a home victory against Copenhagen in the Champions League. Therefore, the win at Tannadice added to the confidence that was brewing. Shunsuke Nakamura took the match-ball home after grabbing his hat-trick. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink also got himself on the scoresheet. Rangers lost 1-0 on the same day in a shock result at home to Inverness which allowed Celtic to go 10 points in front of their rivals despite it only being mid October.
Conor Spence