Scottish Premiership: Patrick Roberts scores twice as Celtic thrash Partick

Only Hearts now stand between Celtic and an unbeaten league season as the champions eased past Partick Thistle 5-0, with two-goal Patrick Roberts the tormentor-in-chief.

Partick had pushed the visitors close in a 1-1 draw at Parkhead in April but they had not tasted victory against their Glasgow rivals on their home patch for 23 years.

And there never looked like ending that barren run as Brendan Rodgers' side, as they have done so many times this season, delivered a devastating performance from first whistle to last.

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They now have 103 points which matches the record of Martin O'Neill's side of 2002 and this 33rd win of the season equals another mark set by that same Celtic side.

The only surprise was that it took 18 minutes for the first goal of the night to arrive, Callum McGregor, Roberts and Emilio Izaguirre all going close before Leigh Griffiths opened the floodgates.

Callum Booth felled Roberts in the area and Griffiths (18) tucked away the Hoops' 100th league goal of the campaign from the spot.

Girffiths was the creator of the second embarking on a weaving run down the inside-left channel before teeing up Tom Rogic (26) for a close-range finish.

Thistle's first sight of goal came on 37 minutes through Liam Lindsay but it was fleeting respite for their over-worked defence, Roberts (41) eventually finding his range as he smacked a left-footed shot past Tomas Cerny from 20 yards.

Cerny failed to re-appear after the break having taken a first-half knock and his replacement Mark Ridgers was not overworked as Thistle looked to limit the damage.

Celtic continued to boss proceedings but the chances had dried up and Chris Erskine spurned a good chance to pull one back as the visitors dithered at the back.

Scott Sinclair came off the bench and drew a decent stop from Ridgers with a first-time effort and fellow substitute Nir Bitton fired over from distance.

McGregor (82) had spurned several chances on the night before finally making one count with a shot that went in off the underside of the bar and the mercurial Roberts (84) claimed the fifth goal with another sweet left-foot strike.

Rogic could and should have made it six but for those in green and white thoughts had long since turned to the visit of Hearts on the final day on Sunday.