Celtic deadline day departure scores screamer on league debut before being replaced by Rangers loanee

Celtic deadline day departure scores screamer on league debut before being replaced by Rangers loanee

Former Old Firm stars in action down south

Tomoki Iwata, a former Celtic midfielder, scored a stunning goal on his league debut to help Birmingham City win their top-of-the-table encounter with Wrexham.

Iwata departed Celtic on transfer deadline day for the EFL League One club for an unknown sum after trying to establish himself as a first-team regular under Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead.

In 42 appearances for the Hoops, the Japan international only scored once, in a 4-1 win over Hearts in October of

 

 

last year. However, he has already scored his first goal for the Blues in only his second outing, in the Carabao Cup, with a fantastic long-range strike that put his side ahead 3-1 at St Andrews.

Some high-profile specators celebrated the goal, including former England captain David Beckham, NFL great Tom Brady (a Birmingham stakeholder), and Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney.

Iwata was replaced to a standing ovation in the 88th minute by on-loan Rangers defender Ben Davies, while Scott Wright, who joined Birmingham from Rangers on a permanent basis on deadline day, was an unused substitute.

Another summer acquisition from the SPFL, Alex Cochrane, who signed from Hearts for £1.3 million with add-ons, assisted Birmingham’s second goal with a beautiful cross that found Jay Stansfield’s head and he nodded home for his second of the night.

There was also interest in the Tartan Army, with Lyndon Dykes selected to the Birmingham bench. He replaced Alfie May after 64 minutes, making his second appearance for the club after joining from QPR for £1.5 million in the summer.

Marc Leonard, a Scotland Under-21 international, was also added in the second half to replace Stansfield, who had two goals, in the 72nd minute.

Birmingham’s 3-1 victory brought them level with leaders Wrexham on 13 points at the top of the league, with one game in hand.

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