Title on the line

With 20 minutes of an absorbing contest remaining Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink met Paul Hartley"s corner with a towering header from five yards that left 'keeper Lukasz Zaluska with no chance.

A Celtic win meant Rangers would need to produce a goal-fest of staggering proportions to take the title away from their arch-rivals, though they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Lee Miller and Darren Mackie scored the goals that ended Rangers title dreams with a whimper, while Nacho Novo was also sent off on a miserable night for the Gers.

The win was Celtic's seventh on the bounce, capping off a remarkable comeback that sealed their 42nd league championship and their third in a row.

With so much hanging on a potentially tricky game, Celtic were understandable nervous in the opening stages, and it was the hosts who carved out the opening chance of the game, with Noel Hunt bursting through the middle and warming the palms of Artur Boruc with a rising half-volley.

While Celtic initially looked disjointed in attack, they were even more uncertain of themselves in defence, with United finding joy down the left channel patrolled by Lee Naylor and Stephen McManus.

However, when things did start to click for Gordon Strachan's side on the quarter-hour mark, the chances came thick and fast.

First Zaluska tipped Aiden McGeady's first-time shot over the bar after a lightning-fast break, before the Polish 'keeper went one better with a superb save from Barry Robson's goalbound header at the near post.

The game rumbled along at a hectic pace, with McGeady seeing a low shot saved after a jinking run, before Danny Swanson passed up a half-chance for United on the half-volley after a fine cross to the back post from Willo Flood.

The open game ensured that the powerful Mark De Vries was allowed space to run into in the Celtic half, and the former should have broken the deadlock five minutes before half-time when he turned Gary Caldwell inside out, only to curl his shot the wrong side of the far post.

Celtic fans thought they had won a penalty five minutes into the second half when Shunsuke Nakamura went down under a late challenge in the area, but the referee ruled the Japanese man had gone down too easily, and promptly booked him.

The home side enjoyed another fine spell of pressure just before the hour mark, with Swanson and Flood both forcing Boruc into fine saves.

However, then news broke out that Rangers had fallen behind at Pittodrie which triggered a massive cheer from the sizeable travelling support.

That goal at Pittodrie came when Miller was on hand to head home a free-kick from former Rangers man Barry Nicholas.

It was not an all together surprising development as Walter Smith's side were struggling to cope with set-pieces throughout the match.

The roar that Miller's goal caused at Tannadice was nothing though compared to the joyous mayhem that erupted when Vennegoor of Hesselink thumped home his header to put Celtic within touching distance of the title.

If the travelling support was in joyous mood, all-round hysteria broke out with ten minutes to go as news filtered through that Aberdeen had doubled their lead against Rangers.

Miller was this time the provider as his flick-on was met by Mackie who then fired home from close range.

With Dundee United visibly tiring, Celtic were able to close out the match comfortably, with their fans delivering one final rendition of “You'll Never Walk Alone” to round off the season.

After the match, the players put on t-shirts with the same message on the back and a picture of former manager and player Tommy Burns on the front, in honour of the Parkhead legend who was put to rest this week.

Rangers however, were left to reflect on what was a miserable performance on a miserable night, with substitute Novo compounding matters 10 minutes from time when his x-rated challenge on Stuart Duff resulted in a straight red card.

They must now try and pick themselves up for the Scottish Cup final against Queen of the South which takes place on Saturday.

In the night's only other game, Motherwell finished off their excellent season with a 2-0 win over Hibernian.

Simon Lappin and Jamie Murphy (penalty) got the goals.