TOM ROGIC reminded everyone that Celtic are used to leading from the front, despite last season’s massive disappointment when the quest for the historic tenth successive title ended in ruins.
The Australian international playmaker produced a five-star performance as he claimed a first-half double in the rampant 4-0 triumph over Motherwell at Fir Park yesterday.
Liel Abada stroked in a neat Reo Hatate left-wing cross to open the scoring in the 28th minute and Rogic added a quickfire second with a sublime left-footed curling finish from just outside the box, a sweeping shot that arced into Liam Kelly’s top right-hand corner of the net.
Just before half-time, he nonchalantly notched a third after service from Abada while Daizen Maeda was rewarded for unselfish running throughout the encounter when he hit a deflected effort which looped over the head of the stranded keeper.
KNOCK ON WOOD…Tom Rogic’s chances of a hat-trick are denied as his effort beats Liam Kelly, but slams against the post.
Rogic was denied a rare hat-trick when he thumped an angled drive against the outside of the near post with 12 minutes to go.
The win made certain the Hoops would remain at the Premiership summit no matter what happened at Ibrox later in the day and the 29-year-old midfielder was asked by a Sky Sports reporter whether staying ahead of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team presented a different challenge.
Rogic replied: “We were top of the pile for the last decade.
“Obviously, off the back of last season was disappointing, but it’s a familiar position for a lot of us, so we need to keep working hard, head down, focus on the next game and don’t get too carried away with it.
“Everyone is watching us after that result and it is important we back it up.
SKIP SKIP HOORAY…Tom Rogic takes to the air while Well defender Jake Carroll sits it out.
“To be fair we’ve been doing that for a good few months now, we’ve been bringing some consistency together.
“We’ve been playing well and people are maybe now starting to take a bit more notice, but, for us it’s just keep focusing on the next game and keep working hard.”
Rogic also praised the role of his former international gaffer Ange Postecoglou and added: “He’s fantastic. Obviously, I know him well, I had him for four or five years in the national team, and he’s been brilliant.
“I obviously know the quality of manager he is and it’s nice to see that people on this side of the world are starting to take notice and he’s getting recognition because he’s done a hell of a job.”
DIDN’T THEY DO WELL – HOOPS TO THE FOUR
