Hearts end Celtic's 69-game record unbeaten run in an emphatic victory with David Milinkovic at the double

Goals from David Milinkovic, Kyle Lafferty and the 16-year-old Harry Cochrane ensured the win as Hearts put in an outstanding performance to thrash the league leaders

Celtic players applaud the visiting supporters (Rex Shuttershock)

After 69 games across three competitions spanning three seasons, Celtic’s record-breaking run finally came to an end in a thumping defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.

Goals by David Milinkovic, Kyle Lafferty and the 16-year-old Harry Cochrane created a mountain which was too big even for Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic team to climb, slumping to a 4-0 defeat.

Celtic made history last month when they beat St Johnstone 4-0 to become the first team in British history to surpass 62 matches unbeaten – breaking a record set by Celtic themselves a century ago.

Since that game they survived nervy draws with Hibernian and Motherwell, the latter thanks to a late Scott Sinclair penalty, but finally came unstuck at Hearts.

The run started in May 2016 and Celtic won every domestic trophy available in the intervening period, claiming a domestic treble last season of Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup.

“Of course it’s a sore one when you are beaten like that,” Rodgers said, “but they (Celtic’s players) can hold their heads up. They have been absolutely amazing over those 18 months.”

Celtic remain two points clear of second-place Aberdeen in the Scottish top flight with one game in hand.