‘Four points is nothing’ – Celtic manager Martin O’Neill stays cool after statement win over Hearts

So, just how good a Celtic performance was this?

As far as former Rangers striker Kris Boyd is concerned, it was a throwback to Parkhead’s favourite Australian, whose fast-flowing, attacking football delivered a domestic double followed by a treble in his two seasons in charge, prior to Brendan Rodgers’ return.

“That is the closest I’ve seen to Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic,” Boyd told Sky Sports.

“That first half was devastating.”

Former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan felt his old side simply ran into Celtic at the wrong time.

“It’s a really poor performance from Hearts,” he said on Sky Sports.

“At the same time, you’ve got to give Celtic credit. It was probably their best performance of the season.”

Celtic showed more cohesion and spirit than in recent performances, according to former goalkeeper Pat Bonner, who feels two youngsters shone particularly brightly in the October sunshine.

“Celtic’s organisation was better,” Bonner told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.

“They worked harder as a unit. Their attitude was better, everybody doing that little bit of hard graft that you have to do and then ability takes over.

“Young Callum Osmand and Colby Donovan, they’re the ones that set the tone.”

Former Celtic captain Scott Brown summed up his old side’s performance in one word: “Fantastic.”

And he added: “The best thing about Celtic today was the pace in the forward line and how they got after Hearts. Camilo Duran through the middle is exciting me.

“Callum Osmand did more in 45 minutes out wide than Sebastian Tounekti has done probably since he signed for the club. Haissem Hassan has got a few issues defensively but going forward he’s a delight to watch.”