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

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