Dundee United 1 – 0 Hibernian
United leapfrogged Hibs into third place in the table thanks to Danny Swanson's goal.

The home team were handed the chance to take the lead when they were awarded a controversial penalty for Chris Hogg's foul on Prince Buaben. The offence appeared to take place outside the area but ref Steve Conroy awarded the spot-kick after consulting with his assistant.  Nevertheless Graeme Smith saved David Goodwillie's spot-kick before seeing the striker head the rebound wide.  But Goodwillie made amends when he set up Swanson for the winner just before the interval.

Hibs pushed hard after the break but the closest they came was David Wotherspoon's effort which rebounded off the post.

Celtic 1 – 1 Falkirk
Celtic slipped nine points behind Rangers at the top of the table when they were held at home by bottom club Falkirk.

Carl Finnigan gave Falkirk the lead when he held off Darren O'Dea's challenge to fire home and although Georgios Samaras blasted Marc Crosas' pass in to level before the break, Celtic couldn't find a second-half breakthrough.

South Korean midfielder Ki Sung Yueng made his debut and caught the eye with some excellent dead ball efforts but Falkirk held on for a point. The Bairns stay bottom but move to within a point of Kilmarnock at the foot of the table.

Hamilton 0 – 1 Rangers
Rangers, without strikers Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller, made heavy weather of it against Hamilton but stayed well clear at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League thanks to Nacho Novo's late goal.  The Spaniard, who became a father last weekend, dedicated his late shot from an acute angle to new son Javier.

Accies had been the better side in the first-half and almost scored after the break when Mickael Antoine-Curier outstripped Davie Weir but shot into the side-net.

Hearts 1 – 0 St Mirren
Hearts opened up a four-point gap ahead of Motherwell and made it six Clydesdale Bank Premier League games unbeaten.

Skipper Michael Stewart was their hero when he slammed home a penalty for his seventh goal of the season following Hugh Murray's first-half handball.  Hearts could have added more goals after the break in a game they dominated – David Obua coming closest to doubling their lead.

Kilmarnock 0 – 3 Motherwell
Motherwell moved into the top six to give interim manager Craig Brown his first victory in charge.

All the goals came after the break – Jim O'Brien blasted home the opener after 55 minutes then sealed the points 15 minutes later with a close-range finish.  On-loan Lukas Jutkiewicz added a third when he slid the ball home after John Sutton's effort had been blocked.

David Fernandez came closest for Killie in a disappointing first game in charge for new manager Jimmy Calderwood with a late effort which John Ruddy saved.

St Johnstone v Aberdeen – Match postponed

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 18 January 2010