Celtic 2
Dundee 1
Scottish Cup (Quarter Final Replay)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from Don John | The Courier .

This Scottish Cup quarter-final replay reached a dramatic climax just after the whistle sounded for the start of the second half at Parkhead last night.

In the first two minutes Dundee lost Bobby Glennie, ordered off, then, almost immediately, equalised Celtic's first-half goal.

Stirring stuff, and the rest of the second half was lively, too. But Dundee's 10 men, hard as they fought, couldn't keep out Celtic's 11 and they finally went down-and out of the cup.

Glennie's tackle on Murdo MacLeod was certainly a bad one, but I didn't think it rated a red card. His departure certainly blighted Dundee's chances.

The Dens Parkers weren't much seen in attack in the first half but held Celtic fairly easily until the defence froze, allowing Frank McGarvey to put his side in front.

It was Ray Stephen who stunned the bumper 37,390 crowd with that unexpected equaliser, and Mo Johnston who sent home fans away happy with the winner, which ensured Celtic their semi-final place against Motherwell.

So, after a run of 10 games unbeaten, Dundee taste defeat. But they still take a great deal of credit, as well as a lot of cash from this tie.

Compared to Saturday's team, Celtic brought in Willie McStay and Pierce O'Leary for Mark Reid and Peter Grant. Dundee's only change was a surprise, Stewart Forsyth wearing the No. 9 jersey in place of Graeme Harvey.

With the fans still pouring in, the kick-off was delayed for five minutes. Dundee started off with Forsyth in the right-back position, and McGeachie in a more forward role.

McGeachie played a part in the visitors' first attack. It ended with McCormack diving forward but misheading the cross past the post.

Aitken raised the first home cheer. He had a fine passing move with MacLeod, before setting out on a typical penetrating run. But it all fizzled out tamely.

So did most of the early attacks, as the teams tried to settle amid a spate of fouls.

Brown sent Rafferty on a good run for Dundee, but McGeachie couldn't control the cross. At the other end, Geddes clutched a McAdam header confidently and an awkward McGarvey cross landed on top of the Dundee net in the next attack.

Celtic weaved some ineffective patterns and put in some nagging pressure without worrying Geddes. Referee Syme wasn't impressed with a home penalty claim when a Johnston shot struck Smith in 23 minutes.

A couple of minutes later, Paul McStay did get in a Celtic shot which went past the post with Geddes stretching. McGarvey followed with a similar shot, the same ending.

In a Dundee break, Stephen and McKinlay forced McGrain to head past for a corner. Connor's kick found Brown's head-but unlike Saturday the big man was off target this time.

In 31 minutes, McGrain complained to the ref about a challenge on his keeper and was duly warned. But he kept complaining and had to be booked-Danny should have known better.

This incident put some zip into the play. Aitken thundered a tremendous shot inches past the post.

Celtic then went in front in. 34 minutes in simple fashion. Willie McStay crossed from the right and found McGarvey standing six yards out and unmarked. No one moved, and McGarvey had all the time in the world to head past Geddes. It was a bad goal from Dundee's point of view.

Rafferty became the second booking in 39 minutes for showing dissent after the award of a free kick.

Dundee weren't so confident or so composed looking now. A fierce left-wing cross from MacLeod was only partly saved by

Geddes and there followed some nasty moments for the visitors before the ball was finally cleared.

Ordered off

Dundee resumed with Walker McCall on for Forsyth, and an obviously more determined mood. But all seemed to go wrong in the

very first minute. Glennie tackled MacLeod fiercely, the crowd went daft, and the

Dundee defender was sensationally ordered off by Mr Syme.

Though MacLeod needed attention, he recovered quickly. In , the whole incident looked far worse than it was

fact Just as we thought this meant the end of Dundee's chances, they equalised!

Brown put over a cross from the right, the ball took a deflection, and Stephen was lying handy to hook it into the Celtic net.

What a start to the second half-what a boost to this depleted Dundee team. For a spell they had Celtic rocking, as they stormed

into the attack, with McCall's aerial ability giving the home defence a lot of trouble.

Celtic brought on Tommy Burns for McGrain in the 60th minute, and started to take a grip again.

McGarvey spoiled a good chance for the home side, blazing a shot wildly over the bar, with Johnston, in good position, waiting for his pass.

Burns then twice went close. His powerful shot from a McGarvey pass brought out a magnificent save from Geddes. Then the Celtic sub hit a beauty just inches wide of the post.

Celtic powered on, and almost inevitably took the lead again in 69 minutes. Provan cut the ball back from near the byline, and Johnston hammered it high into the net in a jiffy. McGarvey went off for Brian McClair two minutes later, and though Dundee battled on they were hard pushed to hold the Celtic attacks.

But the Dundee visitors were always keen enough to break out and managed to give Bonner and his mates some anxious moments.

The final whistle brought joy to the terracings and left Dundee wondering what might have happened if that 46th-minute ordering-off hadn't taken place