Celtic took their expected revenge on Hibs after their recent CIS Cup defeat with a six-goal thrashing of the Edinburgh side.
Martin O'Neill's side extended their lead at the top of the table to a massive 11 points although Rangers still have a game in hand.
While the result was never in doubt, the ordering off of Derek Riordan just before half time was the turning point in the match.
At that stage Hibs were only one behind but the referee's decision looked harsh as Riordan's tackle on Jackie McNamara looked deserving of a booking at worst.
The home team made an early breakthrough when John Hartson's pass through the centre of the Hibs defence found Chris Sutton who shot home under the keeper.
Hibs gradually clawed their way back into the game and Johan Mjallby made a great blocking tackle on Tom McManus as the striker was poised to shoot.
Sutton fired inches wide from 25 yards before Rab Douglas made a great reflex save to touch over Riordan's deflected shot.
Sutton was adjudged offside as he finished off a neat one-two with Henrik Larsson before Riordan's ordering off changed the course of the match.
Players on each side had already been booked but referee Alan Freeland looked to have over-reacted to what was a late challenge by Riordan.
When Hartson then headed home Alan Thompson's cross on the stroke of half time, the game was effectively over.
After Colin Murdock blocked Larsson in the box, Sutton scored his second and Celtic's third from the spot.
Larsson then dispossessed Mathias Doumbe before setting up Hartson to make it four.
Larsson himself got on the scoresheet when he finished off a pass from substitute Liam Miller before Stilian Petrov ended the scoring from a Neil Lennon pass.