Red-hot Giorgos Giakoumakis bagged his second successive Celtic Park hat-trick as the Premiership pacesetters roared six points clear.
The Greek striker made it five goals for his week following a Scottish Cup double against Dundee United as Ross County were routed.
Giakoumakis grabbed two early headers before slotting home a penalty kick in the second period to take his tally for the term to 11 and further outline his growing importance to the squad.
The on-fire attacker also created a strike for Daizen Maeda as the title chasers swatted the Staggies aside with a sizzling show.
County were already 3-0 down and out of it when a red card for defender Kayne Ramsay deepened their Glasgow gloom.
Malky Mackay’s team can still make the top-six with two games to go, but it’s all about the title for Celtic who go to Ibrox in a fortnight for a showdown at the beginning of next month against Rangers.
Ange Postecoglou’s team could not be in better heart with their unbeaten domestic record now sitting at 31 games and it was never under any threat here as they surged into a three-goal lead with just 26 minutes on the clock.
Celtic were rampant and led after 11 when their high-flying Greek rose superbly to power home a close-range header at the back post from Jota’s delightful cross.
Giakoumakis doubled his tally soon afterwards at the second attempt when his first header from a Maeda knockdown was initially cleared off the line.
Celtic’s attacking was relentless. Callum McGregor clipped into Maeda and his flicked header was brilliantly saved by Ross Laidlaw and the visiting No.1 bettered that with a plunging low touch to divert a fierce strike from the Celtic captain wide.
However, the inevitable third was only delayed for seconds when the resultant Jota corner was nodded goalwards by the goal hero and Maeda jabbed out a leg to knock it into the net.
Away frustration was obvious, but Ramsay went too far with his lunge on Tom Rogic.
Referee Don Robertson had let earlier tackles go unpunished and the County right-back clattered through the Aussie which immediately led to him being sent off and, eventually, the home playmaker hobbling off.
It didn’t hinder the hosts. Some of the play against 10-men before the interval was sublime with one intricate move receiving a standing ovation after sub Matt O’Riley drove just wide.
Second-half was just about the final scoreline and Laidlaw denied Jota before Celtic were awarded a penalty for handball in the box.
Regular taker Josip Juranovic sportingly gave the job to Giakoumakis for his treble opportunity and the Greek took it with aplomb.
Postecoglou rang the changes and the opportunity to get David Turnbull back onto the pitch after an agonising three-month injury lay-off with a serious hamstring issue was another boost ahead of the domestic run-in.
It was a dynamic display from the hosts who are really motoring at a key stage of the campaign.
The final international break gives an opportunity to fully refresh and make their final push for more honours with a Premier Sports Cup already banked.
Here's 3 talking points from Celtic Park.
ANGE HAS OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
Kyogo Furuhashi has still to return from his injury and the Celtic manager was also able to leave 14-goal Liel Abada on the bench to start with Giakoumakis and Maeda.
The Greek and the Japanese now have 18 between them this season and, interestingly, 17 of those have come since the resumption of the campaign after the winter break. Celtic’s goal difference could be pivotal in the final title analysis.
DON AGAIN THE TALKING POINT
Referee Robertson was in charge of a Celtic game for the first time since he annoyed Postecoglou with his handling of his team’s Scottish Cup tie against Alloa.
The Aussie talked about protection for players at that time and the whistler let a couple of hefty County challenges go unpunished before Ramsay rattled through Rogic for his red. Perhaps the sight of the Aussie limping off after the dangerous tackle may have been avoided if the ref had clamped down earlier.
COUNTY HALTED
Mackay’s team have been terrific for a long spell and, although it was always going to be a big ask to get a result on return to his former club, the manager still has plenty to go for in the next 180 minutes of the campaign before the split.
County didn’t give themselves a chance here and were out of it before the red card, but there will be other days for the Highlanders.
