Celtic thrash Killie to clinch SPL title
Celtic clinched the Scottish Premier League title in fine style by crushing Kilmarnock 6-0 at Rugby Park.
Left-back Charlie Mulgrew was the force behind their first half domination, scoring twice and setting up goals for Glenn Loovens and Gary Hooper to give the rampant visitors an unassailable interval lead.
In what was one of the most impressive performances of the season, late goals by midfielder Joe Ledley and Hooper confirmed with some conviction that the championship is back at Parkhead for the first time in four years.
Celtic can now look forward to next week's Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts at Hampden and on this form, Neil Lennon's side must be favourites for the double.
Rangers claimed three points against 10-man St Mirren to strengthen their grasp on second spot, in a match that witnessed four penalties. The clash at Ibrox proved to be action-packed as goals from Lee McCulloch, Andy Little and Kyle Lafferty - from the spot - sealed the victory.
Paul McGowan's penalty for the Paisley club proved to be scant consolation as team-mate Jeroen Tesselaar saw red, while McCulloch and Sone Aluko both failed to convert their own spot-kicks for Rangers.
St Johnstone moved up to fourth position despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Inverness. The visitors were the better team in the first half and Jonny Hayes hit a post after a mazy run. But the Perth side picked up after the break and were unlucky not to win a penalty for Roman Golobart's barge on Fran Sandaza.
Aberdeen enjoyed a confidence-boosting 3-1 win over a below par Dundee United ahead of next week's Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibernian.
Darren Mackie had given Aberdeen the lead with his first SPL goal of the season after eight minutes when he expertly chipped the ball over Dusan Pernis, before United captain Jon Daly levelled when he volleyed home from a Willo Flood corner just before the half-hour mark for his 21st strike of the season.
But Chris Clark pounced upon an error by Pernis to restore Aberdeen's advantage after 68 minutes before Ryan Jack's header 10 minutes later meant United's six-game winning run in the league would end with a whimper.
Hearts denied Dunfermline their first win in 11 games with a 2-1 win at East End Park. The defeat leaves Dunfermline still searching for their first home league victory of the season and six points behind Hibernian with only five games left to play - an advantage Hibs could extend on Sunday with their home encounter against Motherwell.
Gary Glen and Darren Barr scored within three minutes of each other at the start of a disastrous second half for the home side. Hearts seemed to be coasting to victory before a late Marius Zaliukas own goal ensured a nervy final 10 minutes, but the visitors held on.
