GLASGOW (AFP) - Aberdeen clinched third spot in the Scottish Premier League with a 2-0 win at home to Rangers on Sunday to book their place in next season's UEFA Cup.

The Dons scored twice in the first half through Scott Severin and Steve Lovell to pip fourth placed Hearts, who lost 1-0 at Kilmarnock, on the final day of the SPL campaign.

And Aberdeen's victory consigned Rangers to their second successive SPL defeat - after last week's 1-0 defeat at home to Kilmarnock - to bring a second consecutive trophyless season to an end.

In the third SPL match on Sunday champions Celtic lost 2-1 at Hibernian.

At Pittodrie Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood was proud of his players' efforts and now hopes the club's fans will turn out in numbers to support them next season.

He said: "We knew Rangers would not do us any favours and Walter Smith played his strongest side and they made it hard for us.

"It was a real game for us but we scored two great goals and I'm delighted we did it under our own steam.

"Rangers did not play badly but it was a magnificent performance from us. We collected a total of 65 points and have split the big money men by finishing ahead of Hearts."

Aberdeen had started the day a point ahead of fourth placed Hearts and knew a win at home to Rangers would be enough to secure third place and European football for next season.

The Dons duly looked the more determined side and opened the scoring in the 21st minute.

Former Hearts player Scott Severin unleashed a sensational strike from 30-yards which flew into the top corner of the net, giving Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor no chance.

And in the 32nd minute the Dons doubled their advantage when Darren Mackie's slide rule pass put Lovell clean through on goal and he clinically knocked the ball past McGregor from a tight angle.

At Kilmarnock Hearts knew they needed to take something from the match and hope Aberdeen slipped up against Rangers.

However, in the 82nd minute the home team secured all three points after they were awarded a penalty when Steven Naismith was fouled by Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Naismith took the kick himself and sent a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net to secure all three points for his side and confirm a disappointing end to the season for Hearts.

At Easter Road Celtic had taken the lead in the 56th minute when former Hibs star Derek Riordan drilled the ball low past goalkeeper Andrew McNeil from 12-yards.

This advantage was not to last long, however, and it was Celtic-bound Scott Brown who headed home Dean Shiels cross for the equaliser in the 60th minute.

And in injury time Ross Chisholm put Northern Irish striker Ivan Sproule through on goal and he drove the ball past Brown from 12-yards to secure the final day 2-1 victory over the champions.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan had made a number of changes to his side - ahead of their Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline next Saturday - and he admitted the players he had brought in had wasted their chance of playing in that match.

He said: "It was fresh bunch of lads that played and it was their chance to impress me before the final.

"I have a good idea what the team will be but I thought if I seen anything spectacular against Hibs then that could have changed but now I know what my team will be."