Rangers 1 – 0 Celtic
Rangers opened a ten-point gap at the top thanks to Maurice Edu's injury-time winner against ten-man Celtic.  It had been a hard-fought but untidy encounter with both goalkeepers providing the major talking points. Allan McGregor made a great first-half stop from Robbie Keane's drive and Artur Boruc made a great double stop from Steven Davis after the break.  But Celtic were reduced to ten men when skipper Scott Brown was shown a straight red card by Dougie McDonald following a tangle with Kyle Lafferty – and Rangers made their old rivals pay when Edu, a first-half sub for injured Lee McCulloch, fired home in a last-gasp goalmouth scramble.

Aberdeen 0 – 1 Hearts
Dismal Dons have now gone eight games without a win after Eggert Jonsson piled the pressure on Mark McGhee.  The visitors had sub Laryea Kingston sent off for a foul on Fraser Fyvie early in the second-half but Jonsson's spectacular overhead kick after 64 minutes was enough to net the points for Jim Jefferies's side.

Dundee United 3 – 0 Falkirk
United leapfrogged Hibs into third place with victory over basement Bairns thanks to a two-goal first-half salvo.  David Goodwillie fired the home side ahead from the penalty spot after he'd been fouled by Tam Scobbie then Margaro Gomis added a second after Craig Conway's drive rebounded from the post.  Gomis is rarely among the goalscorers but he added the third three minutes from time to edge United a point ahead of Hibs.

Hibernian 1 – 1 St. Johnstone
Two spot-kicks at Easter Road saw a share of the spoils.  The home side led in the third minute when Anthony Stokes drove in his 17th goal of the season from the spot after Graeme Smith had brought down Colin Nish.  But Liam Miller handled Scotland under-21 call-up Murray Davidson's flick five minutes from time and Liam Craig levelled for Saints.

Motherwell 1 – 0 Kilmarnock
Craig Brown's side opened up a twelve-point lead over seventh-placed Aberdeen in the chase for a top-six spot and extended their great defensive run.  Brown's side have lost only one goal in over 14 hours of Clydesdale Bank Premier League football but they struggled to break down a well-organised Killie outfit.  The home side had territorial superiority but needed Jamie Murphy's second-half header from Tom Hateley's free-kick to win the points.  The closest Killie came was a Kevin Kyle first-half header which was well saved by John Ruddy.  

St Mirren 0 – 0 Hamilton
The only boost either side took from a poor Paisley encounter was moving a point further away from bottom outfit Falkirk.  Accies had the bulk of the play but barely mustered a shot at home 'keeper Paul Gallacher. In the opposite goal Tomas Cerny's only tense moments were saves from Andy Dorman and Billy Mehmet.  Saints have picked up only three points from their last eight Clydesdale Bank Premier League games while Accies have scored only one goal in their last seven league matches.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 01 March 2010