The beleaguered Jambos were given a brutal reality check at Parkhead as they crumbled to a shocking 7-1 defeat

Celtic obliterated Hearts with a thumping 7-1 win at Parkhead as the champions moved four points clear at the top of the league.

The rampant Hoops blew the Jambos away in an astonishing first-half goal rush as they stormed into an incredible 5-1 lead at the break.

Kieran Tierney opened the floodgates before Benjamin Nygren doubled the advantage inside 10 minutes.

Fit-again starlet Callum Osmand then netted a deadly double on his first senior start as the men from Gorgie crumbled in spectacular fashion.

Laurent Mendy briefly lifted the Jambos' spirit with a fine finish but Jamie McCart turned the ball into his own net just before the interval to pile on the misery.

Camilo Duran and Nygren piled on the agony in a dominant second-half as Martin O'Neill's league leaders produced their best performance of the season by far.

Here, Record Sport runs the rule over Celtic's Magnificent Seven heroes.

Viljami Sinisalo - 7

Clean sheets have been hard to come by for the Finland international this season, but he could do little about Hearts' consolation. With the Jambos trailing by four, Laurent Mendy curled a powerful drive into the net from 16 yards to briefly give the visitors something to celebrate. The Jambos actually registered more shots than Celtic (20), but only five were on target.

Colby Donovan - 8

It's a cliche, but the 20-year-old really does look like the type who would tackle his granny. The young full-back produced another impressive display, combining well with Haissem Hassan down the right. Threw himself in front of a couple of shots and crosses and continues to grow in confidence and stature with every outing.

Dane Murray - 7

The big stopper had a nightmare during the week in Lisbon but Martin O'Neill stuck by him. Murray played a key role in Celtic's second, hooking the ball over his shoulder amid a goalmouth scramble from a corner for Nygren to finish from close range. Far more composed at the back, he also earned a couple of appreciative roars from the home crowd for important recovery tackles. A welcome boost after a difficult European night.

Liam Scales - 7

Had a heart-in-mouth moment when an overhit backpass evaded Sinisalo and threatened to trickle into his own net. But he quickly made amends, flicking a header into Tierney's path for the opener. With Celtic relentlessly on the front foot, the Irishman had relatively little defensive work to contend with.

Kieran Tierney - 9

Unlikely scorer from a corner as the left-back leapt highest to head home Baur's corner from about two yards out. Marauding left-back was on top of his game all afternoon and surged forward to set up Duran for Celtic's sixth shortly after the restart. A reminder of just how dangerous he can be when firing on all cylinders.

Callum McGregor - 7

The skipper barely had to break sweat as Celtic ran riot in the first half. Neat and composed in possession, he made the most of Hearts' loose passing to keep the champions firmly on the front foot. His understanding with playmaker Baur also looks to be developing nicely as the Hoops veteran pulled the strings in midfield.

Mika Baur - 9

Recovered from a dead leg on Thursday to start against the Jambos. And it's just as well he did. The Germany international had a hand in not one, not two but THREE goals. His exceptional corner kick delivery into the middle of the Hearts goalmouth found Tierney who nodded home from yards out, before another dangerous corner led to Benjamin Nygren making it 2-0. Baur then danced into the box before lifting the ball over Reus, with McCart completing the unfortunate own goal. A creative force throughout.

Benjamin Nygren - 8

The Super Swede got the ball rolling on Celtic's second with a cushioned volley from 10 yards after Baur's corner sparked panic in the Hearts defence. His effort took a deflection off Calvin Miller, but he won't have cared one bit. Nygren came close to doubling his tally earlier, only to be denied by Reus' outstretched boot. He eventually got his second in the closing stages, racing onto substitute Kasper Hogh's pass and lifting the ball over the keeper.

Haissem Hassan - 7

The Egyptian winger gave Stephen Kingsley a torrid time down the right, using his blistering pace to repeatedly get in behind. He was desperately unlucky not to score when his effort crashed off the far post, then did brilliantly to reach the byline and cut the ball back for Nygren, who was denied by Reus. A constant menace, although the winger will be desperate to end his 12-game wait for a first Celtic goal. Adding more end product would take his game to another level.

Camilo Duran - 9

Colombian maverick looks far more at home through the middle and produced a sensational display, laying on two goals before getting on the scoresheet himself. He pounced on a slack Sabri Guendouz pass to send Osmand through for Celtic's third, then reacted quickest after his own effort rebounded off Reus to dink the ball over the grounded keeper. Osmand was left with the simplest of headers into an empty net. Duran saved his own goal for the second half, peeling off the defender's shoulder before curling home a clinical first-time finish. A devastating all-round performance from the new dad-of-two.

Callum Osmand - 9

What a way to mark your first senior start. The ex-Fulham hitkid bagged a dream double in a ruthless first-half display, taking his chance to shine after a spell on the sidelines. Osmand was played through by Duran to make it 3-0 after a calamitous Hearts error, then arrived at the back post to head home his teammate's clever dink for the fourth. His history in this fixture following last season's title-clinching heroics made another big moment feel almost inevitable. Subbed at half-time before he could chase a hat-trick, but O'Neill had one eye on managing his minutes after injury.

Subs:

Jota (Osmand, 45) - 5

The returning Portuguese hero was given a massive Paradise welcome back at half-time. Despite his 18-month injury layoff, he didn't shirk out of tackles and picked up the first booking of the game for a crunching challenge. Had the fans on their feet with terrific footwork.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (McGregor, 60) - 3

Powered an effort over the crossbar within minutes of coming on.

Landon Emenalo (Tierney, 60) - 3

On-loan Chelsea kid was given the last half hour as he made his long-awaited debut.

Kasper Hogh (Duran, 60) - 4

The big fella must've fancied his chances of breaking his duck after a first-half rout. It didn''t happen, the the Dane did assist fellow Scandinavian Nygren for Celtic's seventh.

James Forrest (Hassan, 70) - 2

Introduced for the final 20 minutes and looked to make things happen with a few forward runs.

Unused subs: Sam Johnstone, Auston Trusty, Oliver Sorensen, Shim Mheuka.