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James Forrest gave Celtic fans the finale they craved as he equalised in stoppage time against St Mirren to extend his run of scoring for the club to 16 consecutive seasons.
Forrest left it until the league season was 38 games old to get off the mark on a day when he was chosen to deliver the Premiership trophy to his teammates before Callum McGregor lifted it for the fourth year running.
St Mirren were leading through Jonah Ayunga’s goal – and at one stage heading for Europe – until Alistair Johnston set up his fellow substitute Forrest, who slotted inside the near post to make it 1-1.
Forrest had injected some much-needed urgency and creativity into the Celtic team after being introduced in the 55th minute after the home fans raised banners in his honour and sang his name. The winger then went on to collect the 26th winners’ medal of his Celtic career, one more than the previous record holder, Bobby Lennox.
St Mirren fans were left proud of their team for their display and for going through the post-split fixtures unbeaten, but also disappointed after being pipped to fifth. Dundee United clinched that European place after leapfrogging Aberdeen into fourth place with a stunning 2-1 comeback win.
The Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels scored his first goal for the Dons since signing on loan from Preston in January after 15 minutes with the visitors controlling the game. United gradually came back into it and in the 56th minute defender Declan Gallagher levelled with a header from a Glenn Middleton corner.
Sam Dalby put United ahead with a penalty in the 62nd minute and when the dust settled on the final day of top-six fixtures – and there was an unseemly pitch invasion by home fans at the final whistle – Jim Goodwin’s men, back in the top flight this season, finished fourth, which brings a potential Europe League qualifying place.
“Numerous times throughout the campaign we’ve come from behind to win games and draw games,” said Goodwin. “We’ve scored late winners throughout the course of the season.
“Today, the character was called into question again. At half-time, we were trailing and I thought the players were outstanding. They never stopped believing.”
Aberdeen are able to swipe it back if they win the Scottish Cup against Celtic next week, albeit the champions failing at the last hurdle of another domestic treble is a long-odds prospect.
Rangers were left to lament a contentious first-half moment as they ended a largely dispiriting campaign with a 2-2 draw at Hibernian.
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Second-placed Gers went ahead early on through their top scorer, Cyriel Dessers, and felt they should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Nico Raskin looked to have forced the ball over the line. However, play was waved on and Hibs went straight up the park to equalise through Kieron Bowie.
Raskin did restore the visitors’ lead early in the second half but Martin Boyle hit back with his 99th goal for the third-placed Hibees to maintain their six-month unbeaten run on home soil.
The draw meant the interim Rangers manager, Barry Ferguson – expected to make way this summer – has overseen just six wins from his 15 matches in charge since succeeding Philippe Clement in February.
“I hope it’s not my last game but we’ll see over the next couple of days,” said Ferguson. “I know I can do the job if I get the right tools. We’ll see what happens in the coming days. Whatever happens, I’ll support whoever gets the job.”
