HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOM ROGIC! Celtic’s Wizard of Oz celebrates his 29th birthday today – and can reflect on a job well done since his arrival from Central Coast Mariners in January 2013.
The mesmerisng Aussie playmaker, gifted with lavish skills to delight Hoops supporters and demoralise opponents, prepared for his big day by setting up the winner for Anthony Ralston agaist Ross County in Dingwall last night.
The clock was ticking down and nerves were frayed on and off the pitch as anxiety threatened to take over, but the man with magic in his boots refused to hit the panic button.
HAMPDEN HALLELUJAH…Tom Rogic races away after netting the Scottish Cup winner in May 2017.
Instead, Rogic kept his cool and delivered a sublime dinked cross into a packed penalty area and raiding right-back Ralston bulleted the ball into the net with just seconds to spare to give 10-man Hoops three points.
How crucial that goal will be to Ange Postecoglou and his Bhoys will be discovered at the end of the campaign.
Rogic is certainly doing his best in the bid for a tenth title in 11 years – he claimed the only goal of a tense encounter against Motherwell at Parkhead at the weekend.
The previous week at Tannadice, he went on a serpentine-weaving run before curling the opening goal behind Dundee United keeper Benjamin Siegrist to trigger a 3-0 romp.
As we all know, Rogic likes to do things in style.
CALM BEFORE THE STOPPAGE-TIME STORM…Tom Rogic in the warm-up in Dingwall.
He won’t need any reminding there is the little matter of silverware up for grabs on Sunday when the Hoops take on Hibs in the Premier Sports League Cup Final at Hampden.
It’s a stage the Australian has graced before, of course. Who could forget his waltz through a retreating Aberdeen defence to calmly slot in the Scottish Cup winner on May 27 2017 to cap the first treble for Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles?
Don’t bet against Tom Rogic staging an action replay against the Easter Road side at the weekend!
CQN and our many followers wish the awesome Aussie a happy birthday – and thanks for the memories, Tom. We are confident there are more delights in store.
WELCOME TO THE ACTION…Ange Postecoglou sends on Tom Rogic late in the game in Dingwall with the score deadlocked at 1-1. The Aussie helped change the situation.
CHEERS…Anthony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and David Turnbull celebrate the stoppage-time winner with the travelling support.
