Departing Celtic boss Ronny Deila acclaimed the securing of a 47th Scottish league title after a 3-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle.

Goals by forwards Colin Kazim-Richards, Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths made substitute Abiola Dauda's leveller a consolation as the Hoops moved 12 points ahead of second-place Aberdeen.

Read more: The road to five-in-a-row: How Celtic clinched the last four league titles

The Herald:

Aberdeen beat Motherwell 4-1 to temporarily suspend official confirmation of Celtic's fifth top division championship in a row.

But the Hoops hold a nine-point advantage with three games to play for and with a goal difference in their favour of 35, it makes them surely uncatchable meaning Celtic can think about celebrating a Ladbrokes Premiership title. 

Outgoing Celtic manager Ronny Deila said: "You work so hard and over so many months to reach your goals and we haven't reached all our goals this year but this is one of the biggest and five in a row is an unbelievable achievement.

"This is just the start for this club because it's so great, so many talented players. It's been a fantastic generation. Some of them have been here for all five and now it's building up young generation behind it as well that can take over after some years.

"We have three games left. We want to win and have the biggest gap we can get. Aberdeen is coming next week and I'm very hungry to beat them and all the boys are as well."

Deila will leave the club at the end of the season but the Norwegian was keen to stress he still has the support of the dressing room.

He said: "I am very happy and proud as well. It is a tough job, especially in the last week.

"You always ask me 'have you lost the dressing room?'

"I know I never did and today shows that.

"The players are standing behind me all the time and today they gave a fantastic performance.

"I am so happy for them and also that we can give something back to the fantastic supporters, who have been standing behind us for the whole season.

"Five in a row has not happened so many times and you have to enjoy it and I am going to enjoy it today, I can assure you of that.

"The biggest challenge in this club is unity. When you are winning and winning and everybody wants you down from the throne and want to split us.

"But if you stay together, the supporters and players, the rest of the club, we are hard to beat and that was shown today.

"The supporters were really behind us, the players were fighting for each other and then Celtic were the best team."

Hearts had secured third spot and a European place before the game started but found the Parkhead side too strong.

Head coach Robbie Neilson was understanding of the defensive lapses from defenders Alim Ozturk and John Souttar that cost his side dearly.

He said: "He (Souttar) is 19 years old and is playing in the biggest game in Scotland this weekend.

"He is still learning the game but his passing, along with Ozturk, gives us the base to play the game.

"Unfortunately they made a mistake each today and it costs us two goals.

"There are going to be days when they won't and we will win the games. But as long as they learn from it."

Neilson believes that the overall signs augur well for next season.

The former Tynecastle defender said: "We are getting closer, we are coming into these games trying to win where before the aim was to turn in a good performance.

"The performances are there now, we just need to try and get the good results.

"I think we can get closer to Celtic next season because we are always improving."