The Glasgow giants ripped apart the Gorgie side at Celtic Park with a relentless display

Hearts were straight on the team bus after the chaotic end to the title decider at Parkhead in May.

But they would as well have hit the road back to Edinburgh by half time here after being smashed for SEVEN by the champions.

Celtic may have suffered in Europe but they have a fun day back on home soil to leave the Jambos crushed again.

The Hoops cruised it – while the wheels came off for the Jambos in shocking style.

Unlike the final day showdown, this wasn’t tight and tense. It was a rout with the Hoops hitting FIVE before the interval.

Wouter Vrancken’s men posed the odd problem in attack – but they were absolutely woeful at the back against Martin O’Neill’s lethal side as they pounced on rival Rangers’ slip up in Dundee to blast four points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Celtic might have been left bruised by Benfica but they came out swinging here – and were two up inside 10 minutes from a couple of Mika Baur corners.

Kieran Tierney nodded in from Liam Scales’ flick for the opener then Benjamin Nygren buried after Dane Murray acrobatically kept the ball alive.

Final day hero Callum Osmand bagged a double, heading in after Camilo Duran pounced on a slack pass from Sabri Guendouz and then heading home after the Colombian brilliantly won possession then burst into the box.

Laurent Mendy curled in a cracker from the edge of the box but it was 5-1 by the break when Baur ghosted into the box and his lovely dink was kept out by Stephen Kingsley – only for the tame clearance to go in off pal Jamie McCart.

Duran got the goal his display deserved four minutes into the second half when he swept in smartly after Tierney’s neat pass.

With the game done, O’Neill handed Landon Emenalo a debut and Jota another run out, while Vrancken admitted defeat by getting the cotton wool out for his main men ahead of Europe this week.

Nygren strolled in to slot his second and Celtic’s seventh late on but by that stage a fair few Jambos had already hit the road.

Here are Record Sport's big talking points…

WARNING SIGNS

This was much more like it from Celtic. There was far more balance in the side with Camilo Duran through the middle – and far more menace.

The Colombian had to wait until number six to hit the net but he was in the thick of it for several other goals and Celts just look a far more functional outfit with him up top.

Hassiem Hassan and Callum Osmand were dangerous down the flanks and the midfield were allowed to take the ball to feet rather than get sore necks seeing long balls lumped into Kasper Hogh.

The likes of Mika Baur and Benjamin Nygren had a field day against the Hearts man-for-man marking and Duran was the one dragging defenders into spaces to open up opportunities.

There are still questions when facing less generous opponents but he Parkhead men battering Hearts to go four sent out an emphatic message.

Celtic are clear at the top and have the firepower to remain the team to beat.

DEFENCE RESTS

Hearts arrived at Parkhead as the most lethal side in the Premiership this season and there’s been a lot to admire about their attacking intent.

But deerie me the defending here.

Abysmal, shocking, disgraceful, pick any one you want. Hearts were a shambles as they slumped to their worst ever defeat at Celtic Park.

Hearts actually posed a threat going forward at times but they were undone by Sunday league style defending after a team night out.

Wrancken got his game plan wrong, but the goals conceded had to be seen to be believed and will have had the manager in despair.

The Jambos have been talked up a lot in recent weeks but this was a major blow to their credibility and will take some shaking off.

WING AND A PLAYER

Celts have struggled so much for left wingers this season it looked like Jeremy Corbyn might have been drafted in on a loan deal.

Sebastian Tounekti hasn’t cut it and Jota is still working his way back to full fitness.

It was Callum Osmand who got a run out here after impressing from the bench out wide in the second half against Benfica the other night – and he sparkled again here.

The frontman was the hero on the final day against Hearts and relished his double against the Jambos this time. He went off at half-time as Jota got a run out but if he can steer clear of injury the attacker can be a real asset.

SPECIAL DELIVERY

Footballers often come back to haunt their former clubs – but set piece coaches?

Ross Grant was one of the lesser profile summer arrivals for Celtic when the dead ball expert checked in from Hearts.

So it was major irony his new club were two up inside 10 minutes and both were from set pieces.

The Hoops are not the biggest side in the business so they’ve had to get creative with their deliveries.

Mika Baur can whip over a ball but the movement in the box caused Hearts tons of problems.

But this might be a sign Grant is starting to make an impact on the pitch.

LANDAN CALLING

Celtic fans finally got a look of loan signing Landon Emenalo, with the Chelsea kid getting a run out from the bench to allow Tierney an early cut.

The 18-year-old is highly-rated at Stamford Bridge but it was a strange one when he pitched up towards the end of the window while carrying an injury.

Emanalo might be a teenager but he’s a big lad, so there shouldn't be too many worries about coping with the rough and tumble Premiership