Celtic remain five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League after thumping Hearts 4-0 on Wednesday.
The visitors had beaten Rangers at the weekend to propel themselves into the title fight, but they are now ten points behind the leaders again after Anthony Stokes’ brace was sandwiched by James Forrest and Patrick McCourt efforts at Celtic Park.
Neil Lennon’s men started the game in an electric and determined fashion and were in front after just seven minutes. Gary Hooper cleverly flicked the ball into Scott Brown’s path before the midfielder bombed forward and released Forrest on his left. The young winger then smashed in a powerful shot from 15 yards, giving Marian Kello in the Hearts goal no chance.
However, Forrest’s night came to a premature end when he had to limp off and be replaced by McCourt, the substitution followed by a rare Hearts foray forward that led to Stephen Elliott shooting just wide of the far post from inside the Celtic area.
Stokes had a chance to make it 2-0 before the break but hesitated and could not take advantage, while Joe Ledley sent an effort from the edge of the box just wide, the Bhoys just 1-0 up at the break despite having commanded possession.
However, there was a more realistic look about the score eight minutes into the second period when Emilio Izaguirre was felled 25 yards out by Ismael Bouzid. Stokes stepped up to ram a brilliant free-kick beyond Kello from that distance.
After a huge melee kickstarted by an Eggert Jonsson foul on McCourt saw four players including Stokes booked, the Irishman added a third for his side to make sure of the points.
Hooper, who had already missed a couple of decent second half chances, ran onto Beram Kayal’s pass as the Bhoys broke. He tried to round Kello and was brought down but Stokes was on hand to touch the ball home.
Kello then made a great save to stop the former Sunderland man from getting a hat-trick, but the Slovakian was beaten for a fourth time with ten minutes to play when McCourt curled home a lovely effort from just outside the Hearts area.