Rangers have won the Scottish Premier League on the last day of the 2010/11 season.
The Glasgow club clinched its third consecutive SPL title with a decisive 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, giving the team 93 points for the season.
Kyle Lafferty scored after just 46 seconds to give the visitors a lead knowing that a win would secure the title.
Steven Naismith added a tally on the five-minute mark before Lafferty added another for Rangers, giving them a commanding 3-0 lead before the game was ten minutes old. Nikica Jelavic struck three minutes after the half-time mark before Lafferty completed his hat trick in the 53rd minute.
James Dayton was the lone scorer for the home team.
The victory gave Rangers their tenth SPL title under outgoing manager Walter Smith, who will be replaced by Ally McCoist next season. It is the 54th time the club has won the Scottish league.
Following the game, Smith said he was proud of the efforts his squad had given him over the course of the season.
"It’s fantastic for every one of the players," Smith told Sky Sports. "They’ve been brilliant so I think at the end they deserve it but obviously I’m biased."
The manager said he was delighted with how Rangers had taken control of the game.
"We couldn’t have wished for a better start," he said. "The standard of goal was terrific and it was just a great start."
Old Firm rivals Celtic, who beat Motherwell 4-0, came second in the title race by a single point.
Gary Hooper, Georgios Samaras, Shaun Maloney and Paddy McCourt scored for the Hoops in the win.
Manager Neil Lennon told Celtic fans – who remained en mass inside Celtic Park after the game – that he will stay on as manager of the club.
There had been speculation that Lennon would leave following a traumatic season which saw a police investigation launched after a number of mail bombs were sent to his home address.
But he told the fans: "For me this is not the end it’s just the beginning.
"The fans have been a great source of inspiration. They have been magnificent all season.
"This is what we love about this club – we see what the supporters bring."
Police reported nine arrests at the two matches, none of which were Sectarian related offences.
Strathclyde Police confirmed there were five minor alcohol-related arrests inside Celtic’s ground at Parkhead, with a further two arrests outside the ground, one for a minor alcohol-related offence and one wanted on a warrant.
Meanwhile there were two arrests inside Rugby Park ground, both for breach of the peace.
There were reportedly 1000 officers on the streets across the region for today's games, with plain clothes officers mingling in the crowds.
FROM STV SPORT
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