Football: Johnston lets actions speak after his words
Times, The (London, England)
October 2, 1986
Author: STUART JONES, Football Correspondent


Maurice Johnston yesterday struck for and against his own club. In the afternoon he suggested that he might be leaving Celtic when his contract finishes at the end of the season. In the evening he scored the two goals in the victory over Shamrock Rovers to carry them through to the second round of the European Cup.
Johnston, who scored 26 goals in 34 games for Watford, admitted that he would be ready 'to shoot Manchester United out of trouble' before achieving his ambition and moving to a club on the continent. For the moment, he is content to restrict his marksmanship to the borders of his own homeland.

He did so last night to add Shamrock to his list of victims. Celtic clasped the hand of fortune in the first leg and they required another slice of luck before Johnston stepped in. A cross from O'Brien, who is himself being watched by foreign scouts, caused the initial concern.

His cross was dropped by Bonner, who happens to be the Republic's goalkeeper. Mick Byrne accepted the inadvertent display of patriotism but Aitken cleared the danger. Shamrock were then punished for their own hesitancy. They allowed a cross from McInally to thread its way to the far post. There Johnston was lurking.

His conclusive blow, a powerful header some 20 minutes from time, took Celtic into a field of famous foes and comparative strangers that includes the holders, Steau Bucharest, who were granted free admission to the second round, and Dynamo Kiev, who won the Cup Winners' Cup last season.