Scottish Premier League - Rangers lift title

Eurosport - Sun, 24 May 19:50:00 2009

Rangers took the Scottish Premier League title in style with a 3-0 thrashing of Dundee United at Tannadice.

Rangers players celebrate after securing the SPL title, May 2009 - 0

With Rangers knowing that victory would lift them clear of Celtic regardless of other results, they were grateful for Kyle Lafferty's sixth-minute nerve-settler, but it wasn't until Pedro Mendes scored on the stroke of half-time to effectively settle the title that they truly began to relax.

And when Kris Boyd added a third just after the re-start, the identity of the Scottish champions was decided beyond any doubt.

Rangers had started the match at a blistering pace, clearly determined to take their destiny into their own hands - and it took them just six minutes to open the scoring.

Boyd made a great run down onto the right then banged in a cross which flew straight at Lafferty on the edge of the six-yard box - and the midfielder managed to get it in the back of the net with a left-foot strike that was either an astounding instinctive finish or a slice of luck for a player who had done well to be in the right place at the right time.

With the final European spot to play for the hosts threw everything at Rangers for the rest of the half.

And they came close to upsetting the party. First David Robertson's free header on the quarter-hour mark went disappointingly straight at Neil Alexander in the Rangers goal and David Goodwillie's well-worked opening looked dangerous until Sasa Papac slid in to block at the last minute.

Yet the Gers defence generally looked solid, with Papac and Steven Whittaker particularly effective, and it was the visitors who added to their lead.

Papac's free kick collided with the wall but span out to Mendes who unleashed a fabulous left-foot strike that weaved through the crowded box and in to the far corner.

With the home side playing for the final Europa League spot, manager Craig Levein prepared a double-substitution after half-time to try and increase his side's firepower.

Yet before the replacements could even come on, Boyd dashed past the last man to meet a cross from the right and thundered home to put the match beyond all doubt.

Celtic needed to beat Heart of Midlothian to maintain any hope of a fourth successive title but they could only manage a disappointing 0-0 draw.

Celtic Park was a cauldron of noise as the defending champions kicked off against Hearts, but the crowd had the wind knocked out of their sails as news of Lafferty's early goal filtered through.

Nonetheless, Gordon Strachan's men created a host of chances as they put the visitors under increasing pressure.

Shunsuke Nakamura fired a clever early free-kick under the jumping wall, bringing a sharp save from Marian Kello.

Scott McDonald missed a sitter on 21 minutes when Kello failed to hold a Scott Brown shot; the Australian blazing the rebound over with the goal gaping.

Aiden McGeady then forced another superb shot from Kello with a low shot from the edge of the box, as the agile Slovenian tipped the ball behind via the base of the right-hand post.

Kello came to Hearts' rescue yet again when Nakamura bore down on goal from the left 10 minutes before half-time, saving the Japanese midfielder's low shot with his legs.

As Rangers continued to pile on the goals, Celtic's challenge petered disappointingly out. Brown brought another handy save from Kello, but the home fans began to drift away long before the final whistle as the title went to Ibrox.

Dundee United's defeat proved costly, as they missed out on Europa League qualification to Aderdeen.

The Dons beat Hibernian 2-1 at Pittodrie to move fourth ahead of the Terrors on goal difference.

Lee Miller gave Aberdeen an early lead, before Charlie Mulgrew and Derek Riordan traded goals just before half-time.

Toby Keel / Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 192 - 211 of 211

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  1. glasgow rangers champions oh oh oh oh :D
    haha samaras­ (A)

    From Ross B, on Thu 28 May 8:01PM

  2. My money's on a craptic minded bead rattler like­ owen coyle to replace chesney who only left because as­ he got older he realised it wisnae nice what the big­ boys & they bad republican priests were making him­ do cos (wait for it)big jock knew.
    ­ NO SURRENDER.

    From john f, on Tue 26 May 2:08AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Not to worry celtic........we will follow you­ forever.....HAIL HAIL .........

    From dinny, on Mon 25 May 9:09PM

  4. well done Rangers,we really showed the manky mob from­ Parkhead,how to play football,but the greek greaseball­ Samaras said we dont play football,how many goals did­ his mob score from open play this season,never mind I­ am sure the new manager will have to clear out a lot of­ duds when he takes over

    From THOMAS, on Mon 25 May 7:52PM

  5. the ginger midget's gone.hahahahahaha. must have­ heard WALTER'S staying.lol. well done WALTER­ you've seen another one off.

    From Alex W, on Mon 25 May 5:01PM

  6. well done the gers, from all ur followers south of the­ border !! hahaha septik go and drown your sorrows over­ the irish sea u neds, rangers-scottish and british­ follow follow

    From bri.10000, on Mon 25 May 4:45PM

  7. Follow Follow.

    From Paul, on Mon 25 May 3:44PM

  8. Commiserations to septic. Maybe now they will get rid­ of the wee dwarf.

    From Paul, on Mon 25 May 3:40PM

  9. point 205. I agree with your point about 200. Celtic­ fans need to take a long look at the bile they­ spout.Well done Rangers, yesterday at Ibrox was­ brilliant, excepted for the mindless morons that kept­ running on to the pitch.Thank god they didn't spoil­ the party!!!

    From wblairflooring, on Mon 25 May 2:33PM

  10. Rangers true Champions.

    From Charles, on Mon 25 May 1:59PM

  11. i AM A CELTIC FAN THROUGH AND THROUGH AND HAVE BEEN FOR­ 48 YEAR AND I HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY­ CELTIC HAVE PLAYED OVER THE LAST 6 OR SO GAMES. iF­ YOU DON'T WIN GAMES YOU CANNOT EXPECT TO WIN­ TITLES. WELL DONE RANGERS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT­ SEASONS BATTLE, I JUST WISH THAT PEOPLE WHO WRITE ON­ THESE PAGES WERE NOT SO BIGITORY TOWARDS EACH OTHER. I­ AM A PROTESTANT, A MASON AND I FOLLOW A FOOTBALL TEAM­ NOT A RELIGION AND I WISH OTHERS THOUGHT THE SAY WAY. ­ BY THE WAY MY BROTHER IS A RANGERS FAN AND MY MOTHER­ WAS BORN IN COPELAND ROAD. AGAIN, CONGRATULATION TO­ RANGERS AND THEIR FANS.

    From MORGAN, on Mon 25 May 1:54PM

  12. Being a gers fan, I enjoy banter between rival­ supporters. But thats all it is. I have friends &­ family that support other teams. I dont bring history­ or politics into it. Its football. I hear people all­ the time sprout rubbish that they probably dont know­ what they are talking about. I dont understand it &­ to be perfectly honest Im not that interested either. ­ My team won the league & hopefully win the cup next­ week too. They are a football club not a political­ party. Come on Rangers!!!!!

    From LISA, on Mon 25 May 12:27PM

  13. When it's all over and the shoutings done
    Rangers­ are champions by 3 goals to none
    So fly the leage flag­ from the highest mast
    And laugh at all the papes who­ stay stuck in the past
    Because theres something­ hilarious that we all know
    There ain't going to be­ no 4 in a row.

    From dougallmain, on Mon 25 May 11:02AM

  14. Point 200. Perhaps you could direct the same comments­ to all the hate-filled Celtic supporters who espouse­ their sectarian bile on these message boards. Or­ perhaps your another one who only sees and hears what­ you want.

    From frederick s, on Mon 25 May 10:50AM

  15. Point 193. Can't beleive I'm saying this, but I­ agree entirely with everything you've just said.

    From frederick s, on Mon 25 May 10:45AM

  16. aye where are you now? all you green knobends have been­ on these pages spouting your filth, claiming 4 in a­ row! you an your cathlic kiddy fiddling filth can go do­ one!!!! WATP!!!

    From madmac, on Mon 25 May 10:33AM

  17. for those who say wanna be English supporters­ supporting an English team winning the SPL what rubbish­ well as an Englishman here and Rangers fans I know are­ all very proud of being true Scots but just have a­ loyalty to being British just the same as I am proud­ be English I have a loyalty to being Britsh. well done­ gers

    From Alan L, on Mon 25 May 10:10AM

  18. for sale 60,000 four in a row t shirts never been worn­ apply celtic park

    From charliedog3333, on Mon 25 May 9:24AM

  19. See all those prejudice rangers fans talking about­ catholics and none catholics looks at ur own team of­ supporters they are mixed and celtic arent scum but i­ say well done to rangers for winning and its people who­ think like that which makes all the fighting between­ fans and the problems continue if u have a problem with­ religeon leave it out of football if you have a problem­ with celtic keep it to yourselfs no one wants to hear­ it cause its just plain sad and stupid and i laugh at­ the people who do it. Rangers won well done thats all u­ need to say nothing else its not hard so get a lift and­ act like adults cause all im seeing is a bunch of kids.

    From michelle.mg.grant, on Mon 25 May 9:09AM

  20. well the best team won the league on the day so now­ samaras you big ladyboy you can head back to greece,­ rangers showed they were worthy winners yesterday with­ that performance having not won up there for 3 years

    From stuart, on Mon 25 May 9:07AM
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