Celtic receives SPL trophy

Celtic receives SPL trophy

Published May. 11, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

Celtic confirmed their status as Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions on the day they received the SPL trophy with a thumping 4-0 win over St Johnstone at Parkhead.

The game was over almost before it had really started as midfielder Joe Ledley fired the home side ahead in the second minute before defender Charlie Mulgrew's whipped-in free-kick in the 36th minute evaded everyone before nestling in the net for number two.

James Forrest made it three early in the second half as Celtic refused to allow the Taysiders out of a tight grip which had turned the afternoon into a non-contest, with Saints stopper Frazer Wright putting through his own goal in the final seconds.

Inverness squandered the chance to secure a European spot after crashing to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Dundee United.

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A win for Terry Butcher's side would have secured third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and the final Europa League berth.

But Aaron Doran's opener was cancelled out by Ryan Dow, before Gary Mackay-Steven struck in injury time to hand United their first post-split win.

The result means the race for Europe goes to the wire, with Inverness, St Johnstone and Ross County still in contention as it stands ahead of County's game against Motherwell on Sunday.

Kilmarnock gained revenge over relegated Dundee for denying them a top-six place as they prevailed 3-2.

Kilmarnock struck three times in Tayside through Rory McKenzie, Chris Johnston and Sammy Clingan to secure vengeance for their wrecked top-six ambitions.

Ryan Conroy had cancelled out McKenzie's fourth-minute opener within a quarter of an hour of that early breakthrough but Killie stretched in front again before Mark Stewart added a late consolation for the hosts eight minutes from time.

Aberdeen extended their unbeaten run under new manager Derek McInnes to four matches but their goalless draw at St Mirren was a largely forgettable way to mark the 30th anniversary of their greatest triumph.

Three decades ago to the day, Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen side beat Real Madrid in Gothenburg to win the European Cup Winners' Cup.

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