Hearts broken by leaders

Celtic stretched their lead over Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to four points with a 4-0 thrashing of Hearts at Tynecastle.

Seconds after Stephen Elliott's second-minute header appeared to cross the line before being blocked by Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley, Hoops skipper Scott Brown drove low past Jambos keeper Jamie MacDonald for the opener.

There was more woe for Hearts in the 20th minute when they failed to properly clear a Charlie Mulgrew corner from the left. James Forrest returned the ball into the box and it broke for midfielder Victor Wanyama, who fired high past the helpless MacDonald.

The Gorgie men were unravelling and in the 31st minute, after skipper Marius Zaliukas had conceded possession to Brown, they found themselves three goals down. With the Jambos defence all over the place, Gary Hooper fed Georgios Samaras down the left and he skipped easily past Ryan McGowan before crossing for Ledley to head into a empty net to leave the Hearts support stunned.

Gary Hooper concluded the romp on the hour mark with a typical poacher's goal from close range. Hooper set up Ledley and his shot hit the post and rebounded off Daniel Grainger for a corner. Mulgrew fired the ball beyond the back post and when Wanyama headed back Hooper pounced to knock the ball over the line from barely a yard out.

It was then a matter of Celtic playing out time until the final whistle ended the Jambos' misery.