LOCALS from this part of the world haven't been dispatched with such brutality since the Highland Clearances.

The name of Ross County features prominently in the recent history of Celtic, courtesy of that infamous Scottish Cup semi-final defeat in April 2010, but the Parkhead club exacted a further measure of revenge by brushing aside the Premiership's basement dwellers with such muscularity that it was possible to forget all those pre-game doubts about the entire Ronny Deila project.

There have been false dawns in the past, such as that early-season 6-1 dismantling of Dundee United, but by the time the final whistle sounded yesterday there were few non-believers among a boisterous visiting support.

Neither were many of them left pining for Kris Commons, who was ostensibly out with a recurrence of his ongoing gluteal problem, although his non-appearance did little to dampen speculation that last season's player of the year, who has yet to extend his deal, could soon be offered the chance to join his former manager Neil Lennon at Bolton Wanderers. The international break had, however, allowed a few of Celtic's injuries to clear up. Charlie Mulgrew returned to anchor the midfield, Mikael Lustig's re-appearance at right-back meant Efe Ambrose being dumped on the bench, while Callum McGregor resumed his usual berth on the right. Aleksandar Tonev, whose hearing for allegedly making a racist remark towards Aberdeen's Shay Logan is still pending, watched from the stand as both sets of players staged a show of support for the Show Racism the Red Card campaign.

Despite their league position, County came into the match on the back of a two-match unbeaten run, hoping to exploit Celtic's vulnerabilities as effectively as Hamilton Accies but fearing that a backlash was around the corner. So it proved.

Celtic were four goals to the good by half-time and the margin didn't flatter them. The first blow came after just ten minutes, an Anthony Stokes free-kick contested by Mulgrew and Ben Frempah, then dropping at the feet of John Guidetti, the Swede gleefully knocking the ball in from close range.

The striker has been an eye-catching addition to Scottish football and three minutes later he turned provider as Celtic made it two. Having been located with a clipped ball over the top from Stefan Johansen - the Norwegian looking decidedly liberated in Commons' usual attacking midfield role - the on-loan Manchester City striker cut the ball back and the onrushing McGregor finished with a minimum of fuss.

On a bright, mild day in Dingwall, the goals were raining in. Stokes was next up, steering a fine curling shot into the corner. Jason Denayer prodded in number four and by rights the half-time tally should have been five, with only a headed clearance from Scott Boyd thwarting a goalbound Johansen effort.

County made all three subs early, as manager Jim McIntyre searched in vain for something, or someone, to stem the tide. First on was Michael Gardyne, and while he rattled a post with a left foot drive, perhaps his biggest impact was felt upon the ankle of Emilio Izaguirre. While his robust challenge on the Honduran went unpunished, his victim required a stretcher to leave the field.

The incident didn't encourage Celtic to take their foot off the gas. One of the first acts of his replacement, Adam Matthews, was to feed Anthony Stokes, who scored his second of the game with a low shot from long range.

County were grateful to Mark Brown that it didn't become six. He saved an angled drive from Johansen, then outfoxed McGregor on a one-to-one, while substitute Stefan Scepovic could only tug the ball wide when presented with a great chance to open his Celtic account.

Jim McIntyre was philosophical about his side's failings. "The game is done at half time, 4-0 down, you are never coming back from that," he said. "But there was still pride at stake. We tried to compete better than in the first half but it was no consolation. It was a poor performance and one that we have to learn from."