Football: Celtic rally to grab the double
Sunday Times, The (London, England)
May 15, 1988
Author: JASON TOMAS
Estimated printed pages: 2


Celtic ..............2 Dundee United .......1

CELTIC'S extraordinary capacity for rescuing seemingly lost causes surfaced again yesterday to help them clinch a centenary season League and Cup double.

United, beaten finalists last season, looked set for their first-ever Scottish Cup Final victory when Gallacher put them ahead just after halftime. Celtic, however, stepped up a gear or two, and eventually broke them with two McAvennie goals in the last 13 minutes. Celtic deserved their win, but it was hard not to feel sympathy for United.

Celtic suffered a pre-match blow when their experienced Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, Bonner, had to withdraw with a thigh injury. Considering that his 21-year-old deputy, McKnight, has had no more than 16 first-team appearances this season it was perhaps no surprise to see Celtic using three central defenders - with Atiken a sweeper - and United forcing the early pace.

United's positive start almost brought them a goal after just three minutes, when Paatelainen's header from a corner was hooked off the line by McStay.

Celtic, who had taken some time to find their rhythm, created an even better opportunity midway through the first half. McStay, involved in an intriguing battle for midfield supremacy against his marker, McInally, started the move with a delightful pass to McAvennie. But Miller's header from the ensuing cross was poor and United's defence, in disarray for the first time, were able to scramble the ball away.

Then at the other end Celtic owed much to McCarthy's stirring intervention to stop Gallacher capitalising on a superb run and cross by Bannon.

Shortly before half-time, McCarthy got Celtic's defence out of difficulties again with a solid challenge on Gallacher.

Gallacher, the grandson of the legendary Celtic player, Patsy, was luckier in the 49th minute when he put United ahead with a brilliant opportunist goal.

Celtic were caught stretched at the back as, from Bannon's pass, he took the ball past Aitken and then, in full stride, struck it past McKnight from just inside the area.

But United had to live on their nerves and flair, inevitably set up their efforts for an equaliser. Celtic made a double substitution in the 70th minutes, bringing on Stark and McGhee for Whyte and Walker. The extra impetus it gave them enabled McAvennie to bring Celtic level in the 76th minute and then put them ahead in the last minute.

------------------------------------------------- Weather: sunny, warm. Ground: firm. ------------------------------------------------- Goals: Gallacher (49 min) 0-1; McAvennie (76min) 1-1; MacAvennie (90min) 2-1. -------------------
------------------------------ Celtic ------------------------------------------------- (3-4-3):
McKnight;
McCarthy, Aitken, Whyte (sub: Stark 70min);
Morris, McStay, Burns, Rogan;
Miller, McAvennie, Walker (sub: McGhee 70min).

------------------------------------------------- Dundee United ------------------------------------------------- (4-3-3): Thomson;
Bowman, Hegarty, Narey, Malpas;
McKinlay, McInally, Bannon;
Ferguson, Gallacher, Paatelainen (sub: Clark 71 min).

Referee: G B Smith (Edinburgh).
Attendance: 74,000

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