BLIZZARD OF O Z
Sensational Rogic sweeps through Tannadice as Hoops turn potential tricky test into a breeze
IT turned out Storm Arwen wasn’t the worst thing to hit Tannadice this week.
The blizzard of Oz did as much damage to Dundee United on the pitch as the wild winds managed to inflict on the Jerry Kerr Stand.
United had to close a section of the ground after the roof came in but they couldn’t batten down the hatches to contain Tom Rogic and his Parkhead pals.
The Aussie swept through Tayside as Ange Postecoglou’s men turned a potentially tricky test into a breeze.
Rogic scored a sensational solo goal before David Turnbull added a second – but they had to wait until the final 10 minutes for Liam Scales to bag his first Hoops goal to put a proper sheen on an utterly dominant display.
Kyogo could have hit a hat-trick and there were a ton of other chances that went begging in a whirlwind display.
But Postecoglou will have been happy enough to pocket the points and tick off another day on the gruelling advent calendar.
Dundee United don’t need to dwell too long either. It wasn’t that they were particularly poor. They weren’t great but it was more they barely got a sniff as Celtic set up camp in their half for just about 90 minutes.
Rangers have kept asking the question of Postecoglou’s side with early wins in recent weeks piling on the pressure.
But they keep coming up with the answers to keep tabs at the top, even with this light squad needing some running repairs.
Postecoglou was hit with a triple blow during the week with Jota, Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston getting crocked. James Forrest was forced off again this time.
But when some doors close, others open. Greg Taylor returned following shoulder surgery in September and that allowed Josip Juranovic to shuffle across to his more natural habitat on the right.
The Croat has seemed happy enough filling in on the other flank while Ralston has been a new man on the right. But it was always going to be interesting to see Juranovic back in his comfort zone.
Unlike United who spent all afternoon in their own danger zone.
There was the expected frantic start from Celts and it rarely let up.
Kyogo should have nutted his side ahead inside the opening six minutes but he could only nod over the bar after Cameron Carter-Vickers had helped along Turnbull’s cross.
Not long after Rogic ballooned one high as well but the early warning signals were there.
Still, no one can say Celtic don’t
make things interesting. Sure enough, Joe Hart had stomachs lurching behind him when a ropey first touch squirmed across the face of his goal.
No harm done though. Unlike Rogic after 19 minutes. There was nothing wrong with the Aussie’s first touch. Or his second, third or fourth.
It wasn’t just the ball that was under his spell as he danced inside from the right touchline as Dundee United defenders were every bit as enchanted.
Rogic skipped past Louis Appere and Adrian Sporle, sent Ian Harkes to meet his pals at the pie stall and then sidestepped Charlie Mulgrew to curl a cracker into the far corner.
The moment of magic allowed Celtic to dig into the box of tricks. Mikey Johnston lashed one wide after a neat move with Taylor and Turnbull, Benjamin Siegrist diverted a CarterVickers flick from a corner and Carl Starfelt wasn’t far off with a volley. United must have heard rumouOrFsF there was a ball on the pitch but thSeCyALES certainly weren’t getting a touch of it. Celts could have been back on the bus and heading down the road inside half an hour.
Turnbull was among the guilty. He nodded over but then fluffed a total sitter when Kyogo stuck the ball on a plate.
The playmaker almost seemed too casual as he attempted to nudge over the line with his thigh but it allowed Siegrist to make an unlikely block and the rebound clattered off the Hoops man again before spinning to safety.
Forrest fresh-aired one soon after and it was getting a bit silly for Celts.
There was no messing from Turnbull five minutes before the break. The ball over the top from Callum McGregor uncorked United, Turnbull managed to lift it over Siegrist, do a wee twirl and then stick it away on the other side.
Tam Courts had a half-time dilemma whether to offer a kicking or counselling.
United did offer more after the break, even with the general flow the same, despite Forrest failing to reappear.
Siegrist pawed away another Kyogo header after sub Liel Abada picked him out. He had another couple of bites but couldn’t get past the keeper when he should’ve found the net.
United were lucky it was still two – and even more fortunate it was 11-a-side when Callum Butcher’s lunge on Turnbull only warranted a yellow from Don Robertson, when it could have been a different colour.
While it was only two there was still a glimmer for the hosts. Especially when Sporle made a rare charge up field to force Hart into a smart stop.
With nine minutes to go, Nir Bitton’s ball was squared by Abada and Scales buried it with a little nick along the way. Nothing was going to tame this Celtic storm.