Celtic crowned Scottish champions

Celtic secured their third Scottish title in a row with seven games to spare after a five-goal demolition of Partick Thistle at Firhill.

It is the earliest the Scottish top flight has been secured since Rangers won on 16 March in season 1928-29.

After Anthony Stokes headed in early, it was a party waiting to be unleashed.

Liam Henderson and Stefan Johansen added to that before Christie Elliot's reply and Stokes and Kris Commons ensured the champagne flowed.

The victory establishes an unassailable 26-point lead over second-placed Aberdeen as Celtic are crowned champions for the 45th time.

With the Dons having been held to a draw away to Ross County 24 hours earlier, the scene had been set for Neil Lennon's side to win the title in a Glasgow derby.

On a raucous night in the city’s west end, the Parkhead club secured their 45th Scottish League championship.

They did so in emphatic fashion, heightening the lingering concerns over Partick Thistle’s Premiership safety in the process.

An Anthony Stokes header in the fourth minute raised expectations of a coronation by half-time.

It didn’t happen. But, as so often in a one-sided procession towards a third successive flag for Neil Lennon’s side, a foot to the accelerator was followed by the discovery of another gear.

For 17-year-old Liam Henderson, the occasion was one he will remember for some time.

A substitute for right-back Adam Matthews at half-time, the young midfielder had been on the pitch just four minutes when he thumped the second goal into the back of the net.

It was his first senior goal in green and white. It is unlikely to be his last.

Norwegian Stefan Johansen —emerging as an increasingly influential player — settled any lingering element of doubt with the third goal in 53 minutes.

Thistle pulled one back through substitute Christie Elliott, but two goals in injury time — a second for Stokes and a 27th of the season for Kris Commons — elevated the celebrations of the away support behind the goal.