Celtic secure sixth-successive Scottish Premiership title with emphatic victory over Hearts

Hearts 0 Celtic 5: Goals from Scott Sinclair, Stuart Armstrong and Patrick Roberts fired the Hoops to victory at Tynecastle Stadium

Stuart Armstrong celebrates scoring his team's third goal (Getty)

When the fifth Celtic goal went in they celebrated with the pre-match huddle that has become a club trademark. They did so on the Hearts penalty-spot, opposition turf, from where Scott Sinclair had belted in his third goal to confirm a 5-0 scoreline and a sixth consecutive Scottish title. It was an old Celtic routine within a routine Celtic victory.

Brendan Rodgers has his first title as Celtic manager, won on the second day of April. It is Rodgers’ second trophy after the League Cup and there may yet be a third in the Scottish Cup.

Celtic remain unbeaten in Scotland this season. A first Treble since 2001 under Martin O’Neill beckons. That looks probable as much as possible and as the 50th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions approaches, a season undefeated would mark Rodgers and his team in Celtic history. Not even Jock Stein managed that.

Brendan Rodgers celebrates with his players after the final whistle (Getty)

Rodgers’ immediate reaction on the touchline at Tynecastle was restrained – hands in pockets even as the final whistle blew. It had been formality of a contest from the 24th minute when Sinclair lashed in the first and the lack of competitiveness reflected the Scottish season: a green procession long before the end.

Afterwards Rodgers said his celebration would be “a cup of tea” and a review of the game on video.

But the Irishman, who signed a 12-month rolling contract last May then made his strongest public commitment yet to staying at Celtic.

“I’m absolutely delighted for the players and everyone connected with the club,” Rodgers said. “I’m really proud of the professionalism, the integrity, the pride and the style with which the team have played. This is what we wanted to create.

Patrick Roberts celebrates scoring Celtic's fourth goal (Getty)

“It’s only the beginning of the cycle. It’s exciting to see the growth, the development.

“I’m very content. I’ve only started management really and I’ve had five jobs. I need to just stay calm. I’ve already worked in the Premier League. I don’t think there’s a better place for me to be at this stage of my life than Glasgow Celtic, I’m very comfortable here.

“Sometimes with ambition you have to be careful, appreciate what you have. I’m older and a bit more mature and I’m really happy here. There’s not a place now in this world where I’d be happier in my football life and personal life.”

The next aim for Rodgers at Celtic will be to buy players capable of making the club challengers in the Champions League or in the Europa League.

Unfortunately Scottish football is not the testing ground for those ambitions. Celtic are now 28 points ahead of second-place Aberdeen and 45 ahead of their hosts here.

Esmael Goncalves of Hearts vies with Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon (Getty)

A gauge of Celtic’s quality is difficult because Hearts were so poor. At times basic challenges were left unmade, every Celtic player was quicker and more determined. It is a serious point as well as a bad pun: Hearts lacked heart.

It has not been an easy introduction to management for 30 year-old Ian Cathro and while he claimed the scoreline did not reflect the game, that was not a majority verdict. Hearts scrambled forward for the first 15 minutes or so but once Sinclair exchanged passes with Patrick Roberts for the first and then ran onto a Roberts pass for the second three minutes later, the outcome was in no doubt.

A disallowed Hearts own goal just after the interval would have demoralised the home players even further, but they could take no advantage and on 55 minutes Stuart Armstrong guided in a third.

Andraz Struna and Kieran Tierney battle for possession (Getty)

Seven minutes later, Roberts, the 20 year-old on loan from Manchester City, bent in a sweet fourth.

There was some respite for Hearts until Krystian Nowak tripped Sinclair late on. Sinclair’s penalty was comfortable and he clutched the matchball gleefully after.

Sinclair was relegated with Aston Villa last season in England. Like Rodgers he has thrived since his move north of the border.

The word of the day turned out to be comfortable: Sinclair looks it, Rodgers is it, as he said, and so too are Celtic. In Scotland that could be their biggest challenge.

Hearts (4-4-2): Hamilton; Struna, Avlonitis, Nowak, Sowah; Cowie, Tziolis (Bauben 65) Kitchen, Walker (Martin 65); Johnsen, Goncalves (Beith 71)

Subs not used: Noring, Nicholson, Smith, Currie

Celtic (4-2-3-1): Gordon; Lustig (Gamboa 79) Simunovic, Boyata (Toure 87) Tierney; Armstrong, Brown; Forrest, McGregor, Sinclair; Roberts (Mackay-Steven 79)

Subs not used: Bailly, Bitton, Aitchison, Kouassi

Referee: K. Clancy