Celtic Star Men Kenny Dalglish, Teemu Pukki and James Forrest

Teemu Pukki celebrates. Celtic v Hibs, 14 December 2013. Celtic v Hibs, 14 December

Dundee v Celtic, 14 December 1974. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Dundee 0-6 Celtic. Dens Park was home to Kenny Dalglish’s greatest ever displays not only in a Celtic jersey but in his entire career, 50 years ago today. Not only did Kenny net a hat-trick but he set Jinky up twice and Paul Wilson meaning he contributed to all six goals in the game.

It had been a raw winter’s day, and Dens had been under heavy snow on both the Wednesday and Thursday on the lead up to the game but passed a pitch inspection having cleared around four inches of snow. Inevitably making the ground hard, conditions were not the greatest to play on, but it did not stop Dalglish producing his finest ever outing in Hoops colours.

Dundee v Celtic, 14 December 1974, press cutting.

Kenny’s second of the three was his pick of the bunch. Waltzing past three Dundee players from the halfway line and then cooly slotting past a helpless Thomas Allan was a perfect summation of his glittering display. Former Crystal Palace defender Iain Phillip said post-match that Dalglish was better than anyone he had faced in England which included Kevin Keegan and Rodney Marsh.

Dundee v Celtic, 14 December 1974. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Jock Stein’s side’s first half of the 1974/1975 season had been a positive one. With a defeat to Rangers at Celtic Park being the exception, Celtic were in a strong position in the league. An early round exit in the European Cup to Greek outfit Olympiacos Piraeus had been the only other disappointment, but form was positive heading into the second half of the campaign.

What happened thereafter was a monumental collapse.

Celtic v Hibs in action on 14 December 2013. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou. Celtic v Hibs in action on 14 December

Celtic 1-0 Hibernian. Exiting the Scottish League Cup in embarrassing fashion to Greenock Morton and heading out the Champions League on a whimper following a 6-1 hammering to Barcelona at Nou Camp three days prior to facing Hibs, Neil Lennon’s men had only the Scottish Cup and league duties to focus on for the remainder of the season.

Celtic v Hibs in action on 14 December 2013. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou. Celtic v Hibs in action on 14 December

Truth be told, the league had already been pretty much sealed by this point. Having accumulated 39 points from 45 ahead of facing Hibs, with no theRangers in the top flight, nobody posed a threat to Celtic’s league dominance. Understandably after a big defeat in Spain, Celtic were a tad flat in rainy conditions at Paradise. But, it was a rare finish courtesy of Teemu Pukki that sealed three points for the Hoops on a sluggish afternoon.

Teemu Pukki celebrates. Celtic v Hibs, 14 December 2013. Celtic v Hibs, 14 December

Pukki would not kick on in a Celtic jersey despite the talent quite clearly being there – replacing Gary Hooper’s phenomenal goal return was always going to prove a difficult task. Lennon’s men remained unbeaten and headed into the festive period in perfect league form.

Teemu Pukki celebrates. Celtic v Hibs, 14 December 2013. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Kano Foundation’s great achievement. Celtic v St Mirren, 14 December 2014. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

James Forrest applauds the support, Celtic v St Mirren, 14 December 2014. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

10 years ago today, Celtic 4-1 St Mirren. After a dismal start to life under the Ronny Deila era, Celtic’s comfortable victory courtesy of a Scott Brown double and James Forrest alongside Anthony Stokes netting against the Buddies was the Hoops’ eighth consecutive league win which established a six point lead ahead of Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. The Green Brigade displayed a banner before the match which read, ‘Kano 3000 – A Credit to Celtic,’ in response to the Kano Foundation announcing they helped its 3000th child to get to watch Celtic for free.

James Forrest shoots for Celtic v St Mirren on December 14, 2014. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

James Forrest scores, Celtic v St Mirren, 14 December 2014. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

James Forrest celebrates, Celtic v St Mirren, 14 December 2014. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Shunsuke Nakamura – Celtic (Official Video) Shunsuke Nakamura – Celtic (Official Video)

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!

By popular demand, both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below.  Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special Christmas dedication to your copies please let us know.  Postage deadline for Christmas is next Wednesday. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…

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