Celtic clinches 3rd straight Scottish league title
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Celtic clinched its third straight Scottish league title in stylish and typically dominant fashion on Wednesday, beating Partick Thistle 5-1 to take an unassailable 26-point lead in the standings with seven matches still to play.
Anthony Stokes scored twice and Liam Henderson, Stefan Johansen and Kris Commons grabbed the other goals for Celtic, which secured the championship at the earliest date in the calendar since 1929.
"You could feel it over the last couple of weeks," Celtic manager Neil Lennon said, "the anticipation building and the style in which we finished it was fantastic, symptomatic of the way this team is."
With fierce Glasgow rival Rangers spending its second season out of the top flight as punishment for financial mismanagement, Celtic has had free reign in the Scottish Premiership over the past two years.
Neil Lennon's side has lost just one league game all season on its way to sealing a 45th league title. Rangers has won 54 championships.
"To lose one game and break a clean sheet record into the bargain, it has been an exceptional," Lennon said.
