Rangers and Bougherra roll to third straight SPL title

Algeria ace Madjid Bougherra secured along with Glasgow Rangers secured their third straight Scottish Premier League title on Sunday with a 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Bougherra was lined up as usual in the defense line beside David Weir, and contributed to down all Klimarnock’s scoring attempts. 

Walter Smith’s side wasted little time in seizing the advantage as Kyle Lafferty scored in the opening minute of the game and Steven Naismith doubled the lead a few minutes later.

Lafferty then tallied his second goal of the match after just eight minutes to give the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead.

Nikica Jelavic scored his 16th goal of the season in the 49th minute to extend the lead, while Lafferty completed his hat trick four minutes later before the home side pulled a goal back through James Dayton.

Rangers entered Sunday’s match one point clear of second-place Celtic, but the early barrage of goals took any suspense out of the match early and it also helped to send Smith out in style as he will step down as Rangers manager now that the season is over.

It’s the third SPL title for Bougherra who announced his departure as by the end of the season to the Premier League with just one year remaining on his current deal. He declined an offer to extend his contract to 2015. Yet, the new owner of Rangers, Craig Whyte, wants to keep all the stars and yet to start talks with them, Bougherra included. 

However, Celtic secured on Sunday a vain 4-0 win over Motherwell at Parkhead, as Rangers held on to the top spot in the league with a win of its own.

Celtic needed a loss or a draw from Rangers to have any chance at clinching the title.

On another side, Jon Daly’s goal in the 71st minute handed Dundee United a 2-1 win over Hearts at Tannadice Park on Sunday, giving United three wins from its last five games.

David Goodwillie’s 17th goal of the season put the hosts in front after 22 minutes, but his opener was canceled out on the half-hour mark by Gary Glen for Hearts.

Daly then tallied the winner in the second half, leaving Hearts without a win in its final eight games of the season, yet mates of Algeria ace Ismael Bouzid have secured the third place qualifying to Europa League next season.