TOP EARLY TITLE WINS

RANGERS wrapped up the title yesterday – with six games left to play. Here we look at some other teams who strolled to the crown in Scotland.

2016-17 CELTIC

Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles did not lose a single domestic match as Celtic cruised to an unbeaten Treble. The league – the Hoops’ sixth in a row – was clinched with eight games to spare following a 5-0 thrashing of Hearts at Tynecastle on April 2 as Rodgers’ men celebrated Scotland’s earliest title triumph in 88 years.

2013-14 CELTIC

Neil Lennon’s Celtic clinched the title on March 26 with a 5-1 away win against Partick Thistle. The league was sealed with seven games remaining as the Parkhead men ultimately finished 19 points ahead of Motherwell to make it three in a row. Attacking midfielder Kris Commons was the league’s top scorer with 27 goals.

2001-02 CELTIC

The Hoops secured their second title under Martin O’Neill with a 5-1 thrashing of Livingston on April 6. They finished on a record 103 points, 18 ahead of Alex McLeish’s Rangers. They were denied consecutive Trebles with defeat by their Old Firm rivals in the Scottish Cup Final.

1999-2000 RANGERS

Rangers won the title for the second successive year finishing 21 points ahead of nearest rivals Celtic. Dick Advocaat’s side finished it off as Billy Dodds’ double sealed a 2-0 win at St Johnstone on April 23. The Light Blues lost only two league games while Celtic struggled under John Barnes, replaced by director of football Kenny Dalglish during the season.

1974-75 RANGERS

Rangers had to wait 10 years for their 35th title success but they had it wrapped up on March 29 as they ended Celtic’s run of nine consecutive championships. Colin Stein’s goal in a 1-1 draw against his former club Hibs at Easter Road was enough to earn Gers the point they needed.

1969-70 CELTIC

Celtic’s domination of Scottish football under Jock Stein escalated with their fifth successive title when they finished 12 points clear of Rangers. They clinched the title with a scoreless draw at Hearts on March 28. Tommy Gemmell had a penalty saved but celebrations were not dampened. The Hoops lost the European Cup Final against Feyenoord five weeks later.

1950-51 HIBS

The Easter Road side wrapped up their third championship on April 11 with a 4-0 win over Clyde at Shawfield. They ultimately finished 10 points ahead of runners-up Rangers, mainly thanks to their Famous Five front line. Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Turnbull accounted for 67 of the 78 goals they scored.

1928-29 RANGERS

Bill Struth’s team clinched the title with eight games to spare after a 1-1 draw against Falkirk on March 16. Rangers had won 27 of their previous 29 games before the Ibrox stalemate and they went on to finish 16 points ahead of Celtic, losing only once in 38 matches.

1902-03 HIBS

The Hibees won the Scottish Cup in 1902 before an infamous 114-year wait to bring the trophy back to Leith. But Hibs did not have long to wait before winning the league later that year on December 20, with a 2-0 victory over Partick at Firhill. The regular league season ended in January. Hibs won the league by six points from Dundee after 16 wins in 22 games.