Harald Brattbakk sent Parkhead into raptures today after ending 10 years of heartache and under achievement for Celtic.

The £2.2million signing proved to be an unlikely hero as the Bell's Scottish League title returned to the Bhoys for the first time since 1988.

Brattbakk added the crucial second goal with 15 minutes to go after Henrik Larsson had opened the scoring in the third minute

So it was that the Norwegian and a Swede delivered the title to Celtic head coach Wim Jansen.

All three men are in their first season at the club and expect a night of celebrations in Glasgow's east end

Some fans spilled onto the pitch at the end of the match and were roundly booed by the majority of the other supporters.

Rangers domination of the Scottish scene is over and the fans revelled in the demise of their old firm rivals.

"Cheerio, 10 in a row" 50,000 voices cried in unison after Brattbakk's shot found the net.

Brattbakk was brought off the bench after an hour replacing Simon Donnelly.

His form had dipped so much since New Year he last appeared in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers last month.

Brattbakk was on the bench last Sunday against Dunfermline but now takes his place in Celtic's folklore.

But until his second goal, Celtic were nervous and hesitant as they tried to build on their opening goal from Larsson and the roads leading to the ground were blocked two hours before kick-off.

For the fans were in buoyant mood just before the start and gave an emotional rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone.

Celtic got off to a dream start when Paul Lambert released Larsson. He raced away to drive an unstoppable shot into the corner from 20 yards. It was the 19th goal of the season from the former Feyenoord star, who cost £650,000 last summer.

Larsson should have added a second when Donnelly then sent him clear. St Johnstone keeper Alan Main came racing off his line but Larsson lifted his shot over the bar.

Keeper Main again did superbly well to turn the wingers shot from Donnelly after Burley had released him.

But Celtic had a couple of scares just before the break. Keeper Jonathan Gould flapped at a cross from John McQuillan leaving George O'Boyle clear. But he was so surprised at the opportunity he succeeded only in heading the ball over the top.

Then a free-kick from Lee Jenkinson trickled through the defensive wall and Gould was forced to scramble it away. mfl

St Johnstone keeper Main was forced into another superb save 15 minutes into the second half when he got down low to a shot from Donnelly after Andy Whiteford had carelessly lost possession.

But the nerves of the players as well as the fans were becoming frayed as news of Rangers progress filtered through from Dundee United.

Celtic coach Jansen was looking at his watch with 18 minutes to go and three minutes later Brattbakk got a vital second goal.

Celtic players celebrated long and hard, knowing they had won the League by two points from their old firm rivals Rangers who also chalked up a victory at Tannadice.

Celtic's players returned to the dressing-room but only for a brief spell and reappeared on the stroke of 5pm for the presentation.

Skipper Tom Boyd went forward onto the podium to receive the trophy from Lord Bearsten, vice-president of Scottish League sponsors Bell's.

The players then went on a lap of honour in front of an ecstatic crowd, who had waited 10 long years for this day to come.

Teams

Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Annoni, McNamara, Rieper, Stubbs, Larsson (Blinker 89), Burley, Donnelly, Lambert (Wieghorst 82), O'Donnell (Brattbakk 60).

Goals: Larsson 3, Brattbakk 72.

St Johnstone: Main, McQuillan, Preston, Sekerlioglu (Griffin 76), McCluskey, Whiteford, O'Halloran (McMahon 62), O'Neil, Grant (Connolly 76), O'Boyle, Jenkinson.

Booked: McCluskey, Grant, O'Boyle.

Att: 50,500

Ref: K Clark (Paisley).