By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Celtic sent out a warning to Champions League rivals Spartak Moscow as they powered their way to their biggest win of the season against Hearts at Parkhead.

An own goal by Tynecastle skipper Christophe Berra and a drive by midfielder Massimo Donati gave the buoyant Hoops a comfortable interval lead.

Scott Brown's first goal since signing from Hibernian, a penalty from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and a Shunsuke Nakamura flick after the break boosted the Parkhead side ahead of Wednesday's Champions League third qualifying round second-leg against Spartak at Celtic Park.

Celtic drew 1-1 in the Luzhniki stadium in the first match but, after such a convincing win on Saturday, they must fancy their chances of making it into the group stages of the competition for the second season in a row.

In a one-sided first half, the home support only had to wait until the ninth minute for the opener when Celtic took the lead with the help of Tynecastle skipper Berra.

The lively Scott McDonald drifted in to space on the left-hand side of the Jambos' penalty area and his lofted cut-back found Nakamura at the far post.

The Japan international volleyed towards goal but, in his attempt to block the shot, Berra succeeded only in re-directing the ball past the helpless Steve Banks from 12 yards. Even then, it looked a long way back for the Edinburgh side.

In the 22nd minute, the home side doubled their lead with relative ease when Donati slalomed through the Tynecastle defence after taking a Vennegoor of Hesselink pass.

The Italian drove forward leaving Michael Stewart and Berra in his wake before sending a right-footed angled drive from 14 yards in to the far corner of the net.

Despite being well in control, the champions had a double escape in the 27th minute when a powerful Kingston drive from 25 yards beat Celtic keeper Artur Boruc only to rebound off the post.

The Hearts midfielder drove the rebound towards the empty goal but the ball clipped Hoops captain Stephen McManus before sailing over the bar.

Moments later, McDonald latched on to a Mark Wilson cross but his right-footed drive was blocked by the legs of Banks before Hearts cleared their lines.

The Tynecastle keeper then made an even better save from a McDonald volley after Gary Caldwell had teed-up the Australian striker with a perfect cross from the left-hand side of the box.

The match sped from end to end as the interval approached. Five minutes from the break Kingston cleared a Vennegoor of Hesselink header off the line before Boruc made a fine save from Kesuttis Ivaskevicus at the other end.

It looked a long way back for a deflated-looking Hearts when referee Iain Brines sounded the half-time whistle.

The Jambos boldly used all three substitutes at the interval, Neil McCann, Christos Karipidis and Andrew Driver coming on for Jose Goncalves, Laryea Kingston and Ivaskevicus.

Three minutes after the break, the visitors were handed a golden chance when the all-too-casual Mark Wilson was robbed by Driver, who bore down on goal with only Boruc to beat.

However, the Jambos substitute slid his shot from the edge of the box past the far post, the relieved Wilson raising his hands to acknowledge his mistake.

McManus had to head away a McCann cross from under his crossbar as the re-jigged Edinburgh side began to play in a more confident and positive manner.

But the good work was undone in a two-minute spell around the hour mark when Celtic scored their third and fourth.

In the 61st minute, Aiden McGeady's searching cross to the back post found Vennegoor of Hesselink whose headed knock-down was slammed in to the net from close range by the unmarked Brown.

A minute later, Berra conceded a penalty after being nutmegged by Nakamura and this time the big Dutchman sent Banks the wrong way from the spot kick.

Perhaps with one eye on the Spartak game, Hoops manager Gordon Strachan brought on Derek Riordan for McGeady and Chris Killen for Vennegoor of Hesselink.

The points were secure but Celtic went looking for more goals and in the 79th minute Nakamura capitalised on some good work by the tireless Brown to flick the ball over Banks for number five.

In the 84th minute, McCann was stretchered from the pitch after a tackle on Brown to add to a miserable day for the Tynecastle side who finished the game with 10 men.

Teams

Celtic Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura,Scott Brown, Donati, McGeady (Riordan 69),Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 69), McDonald (Zurawski 87).

Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Hartley, Sno, O'Dea.

Goals: Berra 9 og, Donati 22, Scott Brown 61,

Vennegoor of Hesselink 63 pen, Nakamura 79.

Hearts Banks, Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra,Goncalves (Karipidis 46), Mikoliunas, Stewart,Kingston (McCann 46), Ksanavicius, Ivaskevicius (Driver 46),Elliot.

Subs Not Used: Kurskis, Pospisil, Cesnauskis, Divine.

Booked: Ivaskevicius, Berra.

Att: 57,300

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com