Celtic rout Hearts 7-1, but O’Neill warns title race is far from over

O’Neill urges caution after Celtic’s emphatic win

Celtic moved four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership by thrashing Hearts 7-1, but Martin O’Neill insisted the result was no reason to assume the title race had been settled.

Celtic players celebrate during their emphatic win over Hearts

O’Neill described himself as “elated, delighted, relieved” after Celtic’s biggest victory since his return, but rejected the idea that it represented a decisive statement. “Four points at this stage of the season is absolutely nothing,” he said, noting that his side were still only eight or nine games into the campaign.

Young attackers lead the rout

Celtic’s forward line overwhelmed last season’s runners-up. Callum Osmand scored twice, while Benjamin Nygren also claimed a brace. Camilo Duran added a goal and two assists, and Haissem Hassan produced one of his strongest displays since joining the club. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd compared the performance to the high-tempo Celtic sides of Ange Postecoglou, calling the first half “devastating.”

O’Neill praised the team’s work at both ends of the pitch, highlighting the quality of Celtic’s goals and the defensive effort of the back four, supported by the players in front of them. Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner also pointed to improved organisation and collective effort, singling out Osmand and Colby Donovan for helping set the tone.

Rotation ahead of crucial European test

The manager cautioned that the lineup may change as Celtic face a demanding sequence of matches, with league and European fixtures coming every few days. Their next assignment is against Celta Vigo in the Europa League. Both teams have lost their opening two league-phase matches, and O’Neill said Celtic “probably have to win” to build momentum and begin making up ground.

For now, the result offers Celtic a lift after recent defeats, but O’Neill’s message was clear: the win was welcome, not conclusive. The challenge is to carry the performance into Europe and maintain it through a relentless run of fixtures.