The Hoops travelled to Tayside level on points with Rangers but four goals better off and with Aberdeen beating the Ibrox side 2-0 at Pittodrie, there was no need for the tension that surrounded Tannadice for most of the match.

But in the 71st minute the big Dutchman removed any doubts when he headed a Paul Hartley corner past United goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska to send the massive travelling support into raptures.

The win gave Celtic, who could have been 12 points behind Rangers at one stage if the Govan side had won their two games in hand, a three-point final advantage over their city rivals.

It also meant that manager Gordon Strachan became the first Parkhead manager since Jock Stein to win three successive championships.

Celtic had lost the championship on the last day of the season to Rangers most recently in 2003 and 2005 but were not to be denied this time at a ground where they had not lost this century.

The Hoops had also won their last six SPL games which added to the sense of destiny as they took the field inside a packed Tannadice.

However, in the sixth minute United were presented with the first chance of the game when striker Mark de Vries flicked a long clearance from keeper Zaluska on to Noel Hunt.

The Irishman skipped past Celtic defender Gary Caldwell with some ease but lacked conviction with his shot from the edge of the box allowing Hoops keeper Artur Boruc to save comfortably.

Celtic took time to settle but in the 12th minute they broke swiftly on the counter and, with the Tayside defence missing, midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura set up Aiden McGeady with a slide-rule pass across the box.

It looked certain to be the opener but the Republic of Ireland international’s side-footed volley from 12 yards was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Zaluska and United survived the set-piece.

Seconds later, the Polish keeper finger-tipped a Barry Robson header from close range onto the bar and over and again the home side survived the corner.

The game roared from end to end, Celtic edging possession as their corner count mounted with United retaining a threat on the break.

The home side ended the first half on top and in the 38th minute Willo Flood set up De Vries and the big striker carved open a yard of space inside the Celtic box but he shot wide of the target.

The half-time whistle signalled the end of an enthralling first 45 minutes and only 30 seconds into the second period Celtic had another chance to grab the opener when McGeady released Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

The big Dutchman, however, snatched at his shot from the edge of the box and the ball sped straight towards Zaluska who blocked before the ball was cleared to safety.

The match had instantly returned to the tempo of the first half and after Nakamura’s goalbound shot was blocked by Garry Kenneth, the Japan international was booked by referee Stuart Dougal for simulation after going past Grainger in the United box.

At the other end, after Danny Swanson’s long ball had sent De Vries racing against Stephen McManus, the Celtic skipper got a touch on the big striker’s shot to put the ball into the side-netting.

Seconds later, after Celtic failed to clear the resultant corner, Swanson’s volley from the edge of the box was tipped over for another corner, again United failing to take advantage.

Then Vennegoor of Hesselink beat Zaluska for strength in an aerial challenge but his toe-poke towards goal from six yards out was cleared by Tannadice skipper Darren Dods.

News of Aberdeen’s goal against Rangers at Pittodrie had the travelling fans in raptures but Celtic still had to defend against a tenacious United side.

In the 71st minute the visitors wrapped up the title in simple fashion when Hartley’s corner from the left was met by Vennegoor of Hesselink, who bulleted a header in from six yards for his 20th goal of the season.

The goal took much of the tension away from Celtic’s play and the army of Hoops fans celebrated in the stands, almost oblivious to the game going on.

The match petered out until the final whistle when a huge roar signalled the Hoops’ third title in succession.