BBC SPORT | PARTICK THISTLE (original) (raw)
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Wednesday, 20 March, 2002, 09:46 GMT
Partick up for the cup
Partick Thistle are closing in on promotion
BBC Sport's Alan Hansen remembers Partick Thistle's shock Scottish League Cup win over Celtic in 1971.
Partick Thistle are one match away from making their first domestic cup final for 30 seasons.
The Division One promotion hopefuls beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle to set up Sunday's Tennents Scottish Cup semi-final with Glasgow rivals Rangers at Hampden Park.
But it was way back in October 1971 that the club enjoyed their finest hour when they defied the odds to beat Glasgow's other giant, Celtic, to lift the League Cup.
Celtic were one of Europe's most successful sides at the time, but Partick triumphed 4-1 with first-half goals from Alex Rae, Bobby Lawrie, Denis McQuade, Jimmy Bone.
Kenny Dalglish got one back in the second-half for Celtic but to no avail.
 It was the maddest game I've ever been to |
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| Alan Hansen |
A teenaged future Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland star was in awe in the stands.
BBC Sport pundit Alan Hansen was 16, watching his elder brother John and his Partick team-mates walk over the previous year's European Cup finalists.
Celtic had been beaten 2-1 by Dutch side Feyenoord but were out-and-out favourites to lift the League Cup against Thistle.
"Celtic were as good as anyone in those days, especially in Europe, so for Partick Thistle to beat them in the manner they did was unbelievable," Hansen told BBC Sport Online.
"It was the maddest game I've ever been to.
"People were standing open mouthed in the stands, they couldn't believe what was happening.
"Kenny Dalglish scored for Celtic after the break and Partick were under the cosh for almost the entire second-half.
"But they hung on for a magical result."
Dalglish and Hansen were soon to combine for Liverpool
Hansen began his career with Partick Thistle in 1973 before joining Liverpool in 1977 where he went on to collect three European Cup-winners medals among a host of other major honours.
And while Anfield is his spirtual home, Hansen harbours special memories for Firhill.
"Partick have had a hard time of it in recent seasons but they have got a great set of supporters , who have stuck with them through thick and thin," said.
"They are top of division one so promotion to the Premiership is closing in.
"But to get to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup is a fantastic achievement, the icing on the cake."
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