Dundee Utd 2
Celtic 3
League (Premier Division)
Dundee UtdDundee Utd |
2 - 32 - 3 |
CelticCeltic |
 |
League (Premier Division) |
 |
| Goalscorers | |
|
Willie Pettigrew (29) Paul Sturrock (72) |
Murdo MacLeod (3) Frank McGarvey (35) Tommy Burns (60) |
| Team Managers | |
|
Jim McLean |
Billy McNeill |
| Starting Eleven | |
|
Hamish McAlpine Iain Phillip John Holt Derek Stark Paul Hegarty Frank Kopel Ralph Milne Derek Addison Eamonn Bannon Willie Pettigrew Paul Sturrock |
Pat Bonner Danny McGrain Mark Reid Murdo MacLeod Tom McAdam Roy Aitken Davie Provan Mike Conroy Frank McGarvey Tommy Burns Charlie Nicholas |
| Bench | |
|
Richard Gough Graeme Payne |
Roddie MacDonald Johnny Doyle |
| Substitutions | |
|
Richard Gough for Derek Addison |
None. |
| Cautions | |
| None. | None. |
| Red Cards | |
| None. | None. |
| Match Officials | |
|
Douglas Downie (Edinburgh) (Referee) |
Match Report
Celtic arrived at Tannadice knowing the league title was within their grasp. Following Celtic's win against Rangers the previous week, they needed just a point from this match to clinch the league.
Within just two minutes Celtic were on their way to the title. Dundee United were caught cold in the early seconds of the match in front of a huge travelling Celtic support. Kopel made a bad pass on the right and Provan picked up before playing in the on rushing Murdo MacLeod. The midfielder leapt high to meet the cross, heading in powerfully from 15 yards. Pettigrew almost snatched an equaliser soon after but Bonner saved his diving header. However, two minutes later United were level. On the counter attack Ralph Milne's shot was blocked but Willie Pettigrew was there to thrash home. Celtic went back in front on 35 minutes when a Provan corner was headed back across goal by McAdam for Frank McGarvey to knock into the net.
United went all out for an equaliser in the second half and Pettigrew missed a great chance when Milne squared to him and the striker fluffed his lines. Celtic slowly worked their way back into the game and scored another when Tommy Burns beat two defenders before hitting a tremendous drive into the net. United were still intent on making a game of it and pulled another back when Bonner failed to hold a Pettigrew shot and Paul Sturrock rapped in the rebound. Celtic held on to win the game and the League title and celebrated in front of the noisy away support.
Squad Statistics (as at April 22nd, 1981)
| 1980-81 | All Time | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Nat |  |
 |
|
|
|
| Hamish McAlpine (GK) | 33 |
|
53 | - | 462 | 3 |
| John Holt | 24 |
|
31 | 1 | 140 | 11 |
| Frank Kopel | 32 |
|
46 | - | 386 | 13 |
| Paul Hegarty | 26 |
|
52 | 10 | 290 | 49 |
| Derek Stark | 22 |
|
33 | 1 | 115 | 3 |
| Iain Phillip | 30 |
|
45 | - | 94 | 1 |
| Ralph Milne | 19 |
|
28 | 9 | 48 | 12 |
| Derek Addison | 25 |
|
21 | 3 | 136 | 15 |
| Eamonn Bannon | 23 |
|
50 | 11 | 81 | 15 |
| Willie Pettigrew | 27 |
|
30 | 10 | 80 | 32 |
| Paul Sturrock | 24 |
|
52 | 23 | 271 | 78 |
| Richard Gough (sub) | 19 |
|
1 | - | 1 | - |
League Table (as at April 22nd, 1981)
| Pld | W | D | L | +/- | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Celtic | 34 | 26 | 3 | 5 | +49 | 55 |
| 2. | Aberdeen | 34 | 19 | 10 | 5 | +37 | 48 |
| 3. | Rangers | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | +24 | 41 |
| 4. | St Mirren | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | +5 | 40 |
| 5. | United | 33 | 15 | 8 | 10 | +20 | 38 |
| 6. | Partick Th | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | -15 | 29 |
| 7. | Morton | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | -19 | 28 |
| 8. | Airdrie | 33 | 9 | 9 | 15 | -16 | 27 |
| 9. | Hearts | 34 | 5 | 6 | 23 | -41 | 16 |
| 10. | Kilmarnock | 34 | 4 | 8 | 22 | -44 | 16 |
Manager's Programme Notes
Good evening and welcome back to Tannadice for our first home game since the disappointing defeat by St Mirren here away back on March 21, almost a month ago to the day. Since then of course we have completed five games during which we achieved our passage into a Scottish Cup final against Rangers, added another league win at Tynecastle — and lost twice to Rangers and Morton. But it is that marvellous triumph in exiting tonight's visitors Celtic from the cup which I would like to dwell on in this communication with you amongst the crowd with leanings towards United. The fact that so many of you managed to follow us to Hampden on both occasions of the semi-final was a remarkable achievement, and on behalf of the club and most of all the players I forward our thanks.
Your support was an inspiration to the side to go out and manage to delight me TWICE with their performances. As you all know there are very few sides around who can give Celtic a second chance— and still come out on top. It speaks volumes for the players. And what a thrill that triumph has given to so many people who have given so much of their time and efforts for Dundee United over a long period. I include those my directors who have seen both good and bad times curing their reigns in the Tannadice boardroom. As far as the final itself is concerned it will be no easy task to bring back the Scottish Cup - but no mistake about it, it can be achieved!