The sixties were something of a write off in terms of Motherwell successes over Celtic but then given that period coincided with Celtic becoming European Champions and commencing on a run of nine successive league wins, that perhaps was no great surprise.
The seventies, however, provided a good deal more in the way of memorable outcomes.
A John Goldthorp goal on 10th October 1973 broke the long win-less run in a 1-0 win at Parkhead in the League Cup, Motherwell’s first win at Celtic in twenty-three years and a first win over Celtic in all competitions in some fourteen years.
Buoyed by that success, later in the campaign Motherwell recorded a 3-2 victory over the Hoops at Fir Park with Martin, Graham and that man Goldthorp once more on the score-sheet.
Curiously, the 3-2 scoreline would become something of a familiar outcome.
On 11 January 1975, ‘Well headed to Glasgow’s East End with the home side still holding aspirations of winning a tenth successive league title. Willie Pettigrew put Motherwell ahead in the 12th minute and the lead was doubled when strike partner Bobby Graham netted in the 20th minute.
The hosts fought back and levelled through goals from Harry Hood either side of the break, however, Motherwell were not to be denied and Pettigrew grabbed what proved to be the winning goal in the 76th minute.
Memorable though those particular 3-2 victories were, neither were quite the 3-2 win that ‘Well fans of a certain vintage think of when it comes to Motherwell v Celtic encounters in the seventies.
It was on 24th January 1975 that Celtic travelled to Fir Park on Scottish Cup 3rd round duty. Having beaten Motherwell 3-1 at the same venue only a fortnight earlier, the Parkhead side were heavy favourites to progress to the fourth round.
The visitors raced into a two goal first-half lead thanks to goals from Dalglish and Lynch and in truth Celtic could easily have the tie put to bed given the number of chances they had created in the opening forty-five minutes.
The two goal deficit left Motherwell with a mountain to climb in the second half if they wished to continue their interest in the competition further and ‘Well manager Willie McLean threw caution to the wind somewhat in an effort to bring the Steelmen back into the tie.
Bobby Graham’s diving header in the 51st minute gave ‘Well hope, before substitute Ian Taylor levelled the contest in the 61st minute from a free-kick. The sensational comeback was completed in the 70th minute when Willie Pettigrew raced away from the Celtic backline to fire home off a post to send the home support in the 25,000 crowd delirious.
13th April 1977 saw close to 14,000 pitch up at Fir Park – the majority of them expecting to see Celtic secure the point they needed to lift the 1976/77 Premier League title. As might be expected, the Parkhead side peppered Ally Hunter’s goal but were unable to make their pressure tell.
As they became increasingly nervous, the Steelmen capitalised and went ahead shortly before half-time through Ian Kennedy.
The scoreline remained the same until the dying minutes by which time the title chasing visitors had abandoned their shape completely and were throwing everyone forward in desperately seeking the goal that would win them the league.
But the Steelmen would make them wait!
In a sensational last five minutes, Ian Kennedy saw his shot, which was heading wide, deflect off Andy Lynch and into the net to put ‘Well 2-0 up in the 85th minute. Amazingly, little more than 120 seconds later Lynch would net a second own goal as Joe Wark’s shot deflected off him and past Baines to make it three- nil to the Fir Parkers and dash Celtic’s hopes of winning the league in Lanarkshire.
The Steelmen continued to be problematic opposition for Celtic until they lost their top flight status in 1979.
On a visit to Celtic Park on 27th August, ‘Well shut out the home side to register a 1-0 win in front of 29,000 thanks to former Celtic midfielder Vic Davidson’s 80th minute goal.
Having also held Celtic to a nil-nil draw in the League Cup, just four days after that league success ‘Well once again kept a clean sheet when they returned to Celtic Park for the second time that season on league business on January 2, 1978, and once more they would take both points following a narrow 1-0 victory. On this occasion Jim O’Rourke would be ‘Well’s match winner scoring in the 20th minute.
Before the season was concluded ‘Well would register a third league win against Celtic, this time on March 22, 1978 at Fir Park where a second half double from Peter Marinello was enough to secure a 2-1 win in front of just under 10,000.
Season 1978/79 proved to be a desperate campaign for Motherwell that ended in relegation, but highlights were still to be found in matches against Celtic as ‘Well continued their excellent run of form at Parkhead.
On October 4, 1978 ‘Well won 1-0 in a hard-fought League Cup tie thanks to a second half Willie Pettigrew strike and repeated the feat a month later when they won 2-1.
By this stage of the season, Motherwell were already rooted to the foot of the table and were manager-less following Roger Hynd’s resignation earlier in the week. Despite going behind early on to future Motherwell man Tom McAdam, Gregor Stevens equalised in the 39th minute before Stewart MacLaren grabbed an unlikely winner for the struggling Steelmen in 82nd minute.