THE Celtic supporters will all tell you that they follow the green, white and yellow brick road to Paradise. It's their spiritual football home.

So perhaps it was apt that in the run-up to Christmas the 'The Wizard of Oz', Tom Rogic produced another classic afternoon matinee performance.

So often on the big stage when it matters most Tom Rogic has stepped up to the plate for his team and delivered. His Celtic career is littered with special moments and mostly golden goals.

Today was no exception as Tom Rogic proved to be the matchwinner in this 1-0 Premiership win over Motherwell at Celtic Park that secured another three priceless Premiership points.

The Australian's first-half stoppage-time strike was a thing of beauty as he slotted home a shot high into the net from a free-kick routine that was straight off the training ground as Celtic remained four points behind Rangers in the title race.

READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Celtic's Tom Rogic puts on a wonder show

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou changed his entire first-team eleven for Thursday's 3-2 Europa League win over Real Betis.

Only Nir Bitton who was Celtic's stand-in captain in midweek, and Liel Abada remained in the side as the manager restored his tried and tested players for this Scottish Premiership outing against the Steelmen There were two notable absentees as Jota was sidelined with a hamstring problem and Japanese bhoy Kyogo Furuhashi was out of the squad altogether after leaving the field injured against the Spaniards.

The omens favoured the hosts who had won their last nine league matches against Motherwell - scoring two or more goals in the process - since a 1-1 draw between the two sides in December 2018.

Celtic also boasted the best home record in the top flight with six wins and two draws as well as scoring 21 goals in the campaign thus far.

They also started this encounter trailing league readers Rangers by seven points courtesy of the Light Blues 2-0 win against Hearts at Tynecastle earlier in the day.

Ange's men had to block out the background noise or lack of it as sections of the home support had once again chosen to indulge in a further silent protest aimed at the boardroom in relation to police chief Bernard Higgins potential employment in a security role at the club.

It's a situation Ange and his players could probably have done without in all honesty.

In the run-up to the match, the boss man had asked all the supporters to get right behind the team because ​Celtic are running their own race after all.

In the corresponding fixture at Fir Park back in October, Ange had aimed a bared quip at the press for daring to suggest that Celtic's league challenge was over by September.

Ange said: “I thought the Premiership was over mate, so I’m not looking at the table anymore. We are just doing our own thing..."

With no natural strikers in the line-up, Ange had to make do with what he had and do his own thing in this match.

David Turnbull was charged with the task of leading the line with Tom Rogic deployed as a false number nine in the absence of Kyogo.

Celtic Way:

James Forrest should have opened the scoring in the opening exchanges when Callum McGregor threaded a pass through the eye of the needle and Forrest's shot cannoned off Liam Keilly and slipped inches wide but no corner kick was awarded.

It was all Celtic as Turnbull, Rogic, Forrest and Josip Juranovic were all linking superbly well but it was Motherwell Callum Slattery who smashed a shot off the crossbar just before the 15-minute mark.

To add to Celtic's injury woes their injury curse struck again as Forrest went down and limped off the field as Mikey Johnston replaced him on 18 minutes.

READ MORE: Celtic dealt further injury blow as James Forrest limps off against Motherwell

Motherwell's tactics were as cynical and reckless as they come and both Callum Slattery and Bevis Mugabi committed fouls on Greg Taylor and Tom Rogic respectively that referee Euan Anderson incredulously did not deem them worthy of a yellow card.

Joe Hart then produced an amazing double save when Sean Goss's shot struck Cameron Carter-Vickers and looked a goal all the way but the former England No.1 parried the ball and then thwarted Tony Watt's attempt at a tap-in.

It was no surprise when Celtic took the lead in first-half injury time and it was Tom Rogic who provided the vital spark.

David Turnbull lined up a free-kick on the left-hand side of the box and everybody inside the stadium expected him to have a crack.

However, using Callum McGregor as a decoy he shunted the ball to the side and Tom Rogic ran in to expertly guide the ball into the roof of the net.

It was a crucial goal for Celtic at a critical time.

The only downside of the second period was that Celtic did not add to their tally.

Liel Abada smashed a header off the crossbar but would have been flagged for offside.

Tom Rogic was denied a second goal of the contest and Mikey Johnston also saw a header saved by Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly.

It was Tom Rogic's goal that deserved to be the difference between the two sides.

There is no doubting that twinkle-toed Rogic really does play football as if he has Dorothy's ruby slippers on.

Just as life imitates art this 'Wizard of Oz' is the most intelligent Celtic player of them all.

The Aussie sure ain't no scarecrow. He possesses a football brain ... and then some.

Thankfully for Ange and Celtic, he is definitely the real deal.

It was Tom Rogic who handed Ange's side their seventh Scottish Premiership win of the season at fortress Celtic Park.

The Celtic manager is certainly on his way to building his beautiful house.

And as every Wizard of Oz knows - "There's no place like home."