Strachan celebrates his side clinching the championship

"To win by 20 points is scary," he told BBC Sport after the 1-0 victory over Hearts. "Nobody could have dreamt that after the start we had.

"After we got beat by Dunfermline here, we've gone 16 games - 14 wins and two draws - that's not bad going.

"I don't care who you are, to keep up with that you need to be a good side. These players have been fantastic."

Celtic clinched their fourth league title in six seasons thanks to John Hartson's early goal against Hearts.

With six games of the campaign remaining, the race is over and that represents a remarkable turnaround after a poor opening to Strachan's tenure at the club.

"We're not saying that we're a great side - far from it. What we're saying is that we are a side that is improving all the time," added the manager.

"We wanted to try and get the championship back after last season.

"And we wanted to get respectability back from the start to the season - and they've done that.

"Over the season,we've been involved in some great games.

"It was exciting tonight but not a great game.