CELTIC 5
Berra (og 9)
Donati (22)
S Brown (61)
Van Hennegoor of Hesselink (pen 63)
Nakamura (79)

HEARTS 0

GIVEN the depth of affinity clubs like Hearts inspire in their devoted followers, it does not seem excessive to imagine that those who arrived at Celtic Park would leave with the vacant, reeling sensation of people suddenly rendered homeless by a storm.

Even those who had braced themselves for a hard time on the back of early warnings - the defeat by Hibs, the draw with Gretna, both at Tynecastle - could not have been adequately prepared for the devastation that would be inflicted by Celtic.

Their mood will not have been lifted by the news that midfielder Neil McCann could be out for six months after suffering a double leg break following a challenge with Celtic midfielder Scott Brown. The 33 -year-old will undergo an operation today after x-rays revealed broken tibia and fibia bones.

If Gordon Strachan's team achieved an irresistible level of performance on a day when they had any number of exceptional contributors, the alarming manner of Hearts' collapse was the enduring, overwhelming impression from the mis-match.

For the thousands with an almost umbilical connection to the club, this would be a sight to horrify, a bull reduced to cuts of beef in a 90-minute frenzy of butchering. Moreover, there would be the lingering fear - if not the outright conviction - that, without remedial action, the hideous experience will be repeated.

Hearts appear to be a team without a pulse, giving rise to the trepidation their supporters will be feeling over their season's prospects.

Unlike the players he helps coach, Stevie Frail deserves a medal for the character he demonstrated during a lengthy and deeply poignant after-match media session. Among his range of comments, the most distressing was the confirmation the Hearts dressing-room is bereft of camaraderie, lacking even the wind-up humour that is the professional footballer's stock in trade.

In truth, the coach's revelation was not entirely necessary, as this damning flaw in the team was so evident on the field. Apart from Laryea Kingston in midfield, whose excellent drive in the first half thudded against Artur Boruc's right-hand post, none among the visitors showed much willingness.

Kingston, not wholly fit, was one of three players substituted at half-time, a reckless decision in which Frail had no part and which, almost predictably, backfired when Neil McCann - he had replaced Kingston - had to be stretchered off.

The former Scotland winger's removal, leaving Hearts a man short, made no difference to the outcome, as the visitors were already five down. Apart from Kingston's earlier effort, the opportunity squandered by another sub, Andrew Driver - slipping the ball wide after dispossessing a dilatory Mark Wilson and having only Boruc to beat - was the only other moment of menace produced by Hearts.

Celtic, in contrast, could have doubled their total during long periods of ascendancy. Prompted by the seemingly inexhaustible Brown and the intelligent probing of Massimo Donati from midfield, Strachan's eager hunters were an almost constant presence in the vicinity of the Hearts goalkeeper, Steve Banks.

Donati shows promise of delivering a worthwhile return on the £1.4 million Celtic paid Milan. There has been some misleading reporting in this regard, some setting the figure as high as £3 million. The actual amount, confirmed by Celtic, was two million euros.

The Italian is skilful and knowledgeable, displaying a perceptiveness in his passing that will serve whatever strikers Strachan chooses to field. On this occasion, it was Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald, the latter's commitment, movement and ball control contributing to an excellent performance, despite his failure to make the scoring credits.

Donati himself confirmed that he is no direct replacement for Neil Lennon, despite his nomination as the "holding" midfielder. When he carried the ball past Michael Stewart and Christophe Berra before slipping it low to the right of Banks, it was his second goal in successive matches, following his strike at Aberdeen a week earlier.

The unfortunate Berra had conceded the opener, deflecting Shunsuke Nakamura's volley to the left of his goalkeeper after the Japanese had been the beneficiary of some smart footwork and a precise cross from McDonald on the left of the penalty area.

But Brown's ubiquitous performance was capped by his close-range shot for the third goal, taking advantage of Vennegoor of Hesselink's downward header from Aiden McGeady's cross. The towering Dutchman converted the penalty awarded when Berra tripped Nakamura just a minute later.

It was Brown, too, who carried the ball from midfield past a series of challenges before slipping it to Nakamura on the right and allowing his teammate to dink it past Banks with the outside of his left foot.

As preparation for Wednesday's Champions League qualifier against Spartak Moscow, it could hardly have been more encouraging for Celtic. For Hearts, the experience could not have been more depressing.

Taken from the Scotsman