Rangers' long wait for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title finally came to an end when they were crowned Scottish champions on the final day of the season.

Victory against Dundee United was required to end Celtic's quest for a fourth successive championship and Walter Smith's men duly obliged with a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Kyle Lafferty, Pedro Mendes and Kris Boyd.

At times success had looked unlikely - defeat at St Mirren, falling seven points behind Celtic at the turn of the year, losing to rock-bottom Inverness and a crushing draw at Hibernian.

But, for the second year in a row, the helicopter carrying the trophy headed for Tannadice, and this time it was Rangers who were celebrating after falling at the final hurdle and surrendering to their bitter rivals 12 months ago.

For United - this game marked their centenary - there was double despair as they were pipped to the final European berth by Aberdeen.

Rangers squandered a great opportunity after just two minutes. Steven Davis provided the cut-back from the by-line but both Boyd and Kenny Miller failed to connect eight yards out with the goal at their mercy.

However, the travelling fans were celebrating just four minutes later and Davis was the architect again, slipping a pass through to Boyd, whose attempt at a shot was stabbed into the back of the net by Lafferty.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska - Celtic-bound next term - was plucking the ball out of the back of the net again on the stroke of half-time when Rangers earned a free-kick on the edge of the box. Sasa Papac's set-piece was blocked but fell to the feet of Mendes, who took a touch before rifling a blistering left-footed shot past the helpless United goalkeeper from 25 yards.

Rangers were clearly boosted by that goal and added to their lead seven minutes after the restart to shatter any hopes United had of a comeback.

Steven Whittaker embarked on a run down the right flank before delivering a low pass to the feet of Boyd who gratefully lashed home from the edge of the six-yard box to claim his 31st goal of the season.