CELTIC SEALLED the William Hill Premiership title in style with a 5-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice.

Nicolas Kuhn and substitute Adam Idah both netted doubles after Ryan Strain's 30th-minute own goal set the ball rolling for the rout.

Celtic had only required a point, but they wrapped up their fourth consecutive championship in similar fashion to last year, when a 5-0 win at Kilmarnock secured Brendan Rodgers the title in his first season back at Parkhead.

This triumph took the former Liverpool manager to 11 major trophies as Celtic's manager, and set the champions up for a shot at their sixth treble in nine seasons – Rodgers’ third – when they face Aberdeen in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final next month.

The win also saw substitute James Forrest write himself into the club's record books with his 26th winners’ medal, one more than Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox.

Celtic’s 13th title in 14 years had been in little doubt since early in the season, with Rangers falling behind early on and Aberdeen collapsing in spectacular fashion after matching the champions’ 31 points from the opening 11 games.

The Hoops suffered their first defeat at Ibrox on 2nd January but remained 13 points ahead, and despite another derby defeat, this victory put them 18 points clear ahead of Rangers’ game against St Mirren later on Saturday.

Rodgers had criticised his players for being too complacent following a defeat against bottom club St Johnstone earlier this month, but they responded emphatically by scoring five goals in each of their next three matches.

The Celtic manager brought Jota and Kuhn back into the starting XI after two games on the bench, while home boss Jim Goodwin dropped Declan Gallagher to the bench after it emerged the centre-back would not be offered a new contract.

United had the better of the early exchanges. Ross Docherty headed over, and Ruari Paton had a weak shot straight at Viljami Sinisalo.

Their momentum was interrupted by a protest from Celtic fans, who threw dozens of tangerines on the pitch in protest at the home club’s ticket prices, which had reached as high as £42.

Celtic settled into the game and took the lead on the half-hour mark. Liam Scales headed an Arne Engels cross towards the back post, and Strain turned it into his own net under pressure from Jota.

Paton had a chance to level but was denied by Sinisalo just before Celtic doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Kuhn sent a cushioned volley high into the net after Daizen Maeda’s cross beyond the back post.

Idah, who had come on for the injured Jota, missed a good opportunity before Maeda had an effort saved by Jack Walton. However, the Japanese attacker soon delivered his second assist, cutting back for Kuhn to finish from seven yards in added time. It was Celtic’s 100th goal of the league campaign.

The half-time interval did little to disrupt the champions’ flow. Idah headed home Alistair Johnston’s cross from close range within two minutes of the restart.

Callum McGregor drove forward and played in Idah for the fifth goal in the 58th minute, as the Irish forward’s finish beat Walton at his near post.

Idah could not steer a difficult chance home, and top scorer Maeda’s flick lacked power as Celtic looked to add to their tally in a one-sided finale.