Rangers claim Scottish Premier League title for first time since 2005

Dundee United 0
Rangers 3

* Lafferty 6,
* Pedro Mendes 45,
* Boyd 52

[IMG]http://img252.imagevenue.com/img.php...1_122_17lo.jpg[/IMG]


Nobody who witnessed this epic *outpouring of emotion could be left in any doubt as to how desperate Rangers had become to reclaim the title. Euphoric scenes, which absorbed four years of the Ibrox side's frustration, greeted this definitive victory. Rangers are champions again, for the 52nd time in their history; few of their previous triumphs can surely have prompted such visions of relief.

Celtic's home meeting with Hearts proved irrelevant. A canter on Tayside earned Rangers their first league flag since 2005 and the financial bounty from automatic qualification for next season's Champions League which is so welcome in these troubled financial times.

Two men savoured these moments more than any other. Walter Smith, who has overseen such an impressive recovery since beginning his second spell in charge during January 2007, has managed a team which overhauled a seven-point deficit to Celtic from the turn of this year.

The 61-year-old walked off the Tannadice pitch alone and with trophy in hand, his raised fist gestures conjuring presidential connotations. He is a likeable old cove, is Walter, few would grudge him this moment in the sun.

Smith had spent two-and-a-half years out of football, as recently as 2004 he was one of the game's unwanted men.

"I can't remember a season where we have had so many difficulties to overcome," said the manager. Smith was cloudy over his future although that, given the circumstances, may owe more to modesty than uncertainty.

"We have a financial situation at the club so it was important to win the *championship. We will sit down, the chairman and I, and chat. That's where we are at the moment."

And then there is Barry Ferguson. The deposed Rangers captain, who may well head for England in the close season, hardly helped his team's title bid with the nonsense he and Allan McGregor became embroiled in while on international duty in April, when they made two-fingered gestures to television cameras during a World Cup qualifier against Iceland.

Yet Ferguson played a cameo role in this success, appearing for the closing 17 minutes and later lifted the SPL trophy alongside the man who took his armband, David Weir. If this is indeed to be the penultimate sight of Ferguson in a Rangers shirt — there is the Scottish Cup final to come on Saturday — he can at least savour yesterday's return to prominence.

"Barry was our captain for about 30 games this season," Weir said. "I wouldn't have felt right lifting the trophy myself. I was happy to share it with him, he deserves it."

Ferguson stressed he wants to remain an Ibrox player. "Rangers are my team," said the midfielder. "I made a mistake and I'll learn from that. But for now, I just want to go and enjoy the night."

For the neutral, this game was at times as amusing as dramatic. Hitherto unheralded players such as Sasa Papac had their names chanted by thousands of *blue-clad punters. The stoic Bosnian full-back turned conductor at one point and almost, but only almost, managed a smile.

Thereafter every backroom staff member on the payroll and players even the Rangers fans might have forgotten about joined in the on-field cavorting. The Celtic striker Georgios Samaras, who had said Smith's team would not be deserving champions, was also left in *little doubt over what he could do with his opinions.

"There will probably be a few people at Celtic who are disappointed with his *comments," added Weir. "We answered every question in the right way. No matter what anyone says, we have been the best team this season."

Given that Rangers had not won at Tannadice since April 2006 and that they had to earn three points to guarantee the title, it was widely assumed this was a fixture fraught with danger. That notion had been banished by half-time, the visitors *swatting United aside.

Kyle Lafferty, who had endured a torrid week on account of his remarkable *play-acting antics against Aberdeen, decided to create headlines for the right reasons. Kris Boyd had miscued the shot which fell at the Northern Ireland international's feet but it mattered not, Lafferty prodding home from close range. With only six minutes of the fixture gone, it was party time for the visiting hordes.

Boyd was denied a quick second by Mihael Kovacevic's superb goal-line header but Pedro Mendes was more fortunate on the stroke of half-time. The Portuguese midfielder, who enjoyed one of his better afternoons of the season, slotted beyond Lukasz Zaluska after United failed to properly clear a Papac free-kick.

Boyd ensured there was to be no United revival seven minutes after the interval by converting a fine Steven Whittaker cross. It was a costly defeat for Craig Levein's team, who in finishing fifth were pipped to a Europa League qualifying place by Aberdeen.

This was Rangers' day and, financially, their salvation.

Man of the match

Pedro Mendes has been accused of flitting in and out of games this season but the Rangers midfielder was at his dominant best at Tannadice.

Best moment: The act of composure in scoring Rangers' second goal was decisive not only in settling this game but dousing any hopes Celtic may have had of *overhauling their great rivals.

Man of the match Pedro Mendes (Rangers)

Guardian