27th Apr 1996 Partick Thistle 2 Celtic 4 (SFL Premier Division - game 35)

matches:1995-96: ← 42game 4344 →

Match Information

37y, 7m, 3d			Murdo MacLeod		Tommy Burns
Tom Smith; Jered Stirling; Stuart Ayton; Jamie McCue
Callum Milne; Gregg Watson; Billy Macdonald; Wayne Foster
Nicky Henderson (1-0, 5 mins); Andy Lyons (2-1, 34 mins)					Pierre Van Hooijdonk (1-1, 23 mins); Jorge Cadette (2-2, 55 mins); Pierre Van Hooijdonk (2-3, pen 71 mins); Malky MacKay (2-4, 85 mins)
Nicky Henderson (Charlie Adams, 61 mins); Jamie McCue (Andy M. Gibson, 70 mins)					Jorge Cadete (John Collins, 74 mins); Simon Donnelly (Brian McLaughlin, 86 mins)
33y, 6m, 29d			Nicky Walker		Gordon Marshall
22y, 6m, 15d			Tom Smith		Tom Boyd
19y, 6m, 14d			Jered Stirling		Stuart Gray
30y, 3m, 11d			Derek McWilliams		Jackie McNamara future Jag
21y, 3m, 9d			Jim Slavin		Malky MacKay
28y, 0m, 8d			Steve Welsh		Peter Grant
20y, 6m, 8d			Stuart Ayton		Simon Donnelly future Jag
27y, 2m, 19d			Nicky Henderson		Paul McStay
20y, 9m, 29d			Jamie McCue		Pierre Van Hooijdonk
29y, 8m, 3d			Ian Cameron [i]		Andreas Thom
29y, 6m, 8d			Andy Lyons		Jorge Cadete future Jag
25y, 8m, 21d
27y, 2m, 25d			Andy M. Gibson		John Collins
20y, 1m, 6d			Charlie Adams		Brian O'Neil
29y, 10m, 17d			Kevin McKee		Brian McLaughlin

Match Report

TTA report

“Shaky Celtic are almost caught cold by Thistle” (GH). On a dreadful sanded surface Thistle took the lead through Henderson (5) but Celtic levelled (23) before Lyons made it 2-1 (34). Celtic levelled (55) then a pen (71, a blatant dive that left the players seething) put them ahead before their 4th goal (85).

Media report

28-Apr-1996, The People

CELTIC twice came from behind to keep their flickering title hopes alive on a Firhill pitch that was as patchy as some of their defensive play. In the end it was Dutchman Pierre van Hooijdonk who produced the vital strike from the penalty spot - his 32nd goal of the season. It was a controversial decision, as the big Celtic striker was nudged off the ball by the bulky Slaven just inside the box. Referee Simpson, much to the relief of the huge Celtic support, had absolutely no doubts, and to be fair he had been well up with the play. Walker, who had to produce a series of quality saves in a stirring first half, had no chance with the blistering spot kick high into the net. The goal put Celtic ahead for the first time. The fourth, a header from defender Mackay minutes from the end from a Donnelly corner kick, merely emphasised the powerful Celtic finish in a game which had tested their pride, resolve and certainly their resiliance.

With the bumpy, well-worn playing surface doing no favours whatsoever to Celtic's passing game, this ended in a victory which had to be achieved with their sleeves rolled up. Within five minutes, they found themselves a goal down when Henderson ran on to a McCue shot, deflected by Boyd, to slide the ball in at the near post. Celtic, to no-one's surprise, came storming back from this shocker, but it took them to the middle of the half to get the equaliser. Cadette, wide on the left, got two chances at his cross, and there to meet it with his head at the far post was Pierre The Predator to direct the ball well out of the Thistle keeper's reach. The Jags, who will only survive in the Premier Division next season if they win a play-off next month, were in no mood to lie down. Showing the fighting spirit they should have displayed much earlier in the season, they caught the Celtic defence asleep to give themselves a half-time lead. McCue won possession in midfield and touched it on to McWilliams. He found Lyons running clear into the penalty box where he had no difficulty in booting the ball past Marshall.

What Celtic boss Burns had to say to his players at the break may never be revealed, but they played with much more authority in the second half. A run from Thom, whose teasing onslaughts always had the Thistle in trouble, saw him burst clear. Cadette took Thom's cross first time with his left foot and the game was square. Hooijdonk's penalty followed by Mackay's “icing on the cake” suddenly sent Thistle reeling down and out. It now means that Rangers have a critical game against Aberdeen this afternoon, despite the stirring first-half efforts of the Thistle players to make Celtic suffer. There were bookings for McNamara of Celtic and McWilliams in a highly memorable game.

Video Highlights

(credits: Irvine Bhoy / Scottish Television )

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Stats Watch

● 19-year-old Jered Stirling makes his Thistle debut.

● Nicky Henderson scores his first goal for Thistle.

● 27-year-old Andy M. Gibson plays his last game for Thistle.

ongoing sequences:

● 9 competitive games without a home win; 6th Jan 1996 to date. (Longest run since the club-record: 13 games; 13th Apr 1988 to 3rd Dec 1988.)

● 9 home League games without a win; 6th Jan 1996 to date. (Longest run since: 11 games; 23rd Apr 1988 to 3rd Dec 1988. Club-record: 15 games; 5th Dec 1908 to 11th Dec 1909.)

● 64 consecutive competitive appearances for Steve Welsh, 26th Dec 1994 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Colin McGlashan - 83 games, 6th Nov 1990 to 11th Aug 1992. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

Stats Watch adheres to our stated definitions of League, League Max, Major Competitive, Competitive or All Games. Where there is no written qualification, you should presume that the Stat in question is compiled from the All Games criteria.

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