Rangers 2 – 0 Hearts (Sun)
Rangers moved within one point of retaining their title thanks to a second-half Ibrox surge.  Hearts were the better side before the break but Rangers went in front when Kyle Lafferty headed home at the near post from Kevin Thomson's corner.  And Rangers sealed it when Eggert Jonsson, who was red-carded for the challenge, brought down Steven Naismith in the box and Kenny Miller smashed in the penalty-kick. Walter Smith's side could win the title without playing – they'll be champs when they run out at Easter Road next Sunday if Celtic fail to beat Dundee United a couple of hours earlier.

Aberdeen 1 – 0 Falkirk
Stephen MacLean's early goal won it for Aberdeen and ensured they cannot be relegated. The loan striker volleyed home after 11 minutes from Davide Grassi's pass.  Falkirk had a penalty claim turned down when Ryan Flynn was challenged by Zander Diamond, but although the visitors had more of the ball after the interval, Aberdeen hung on comfortably for the vital victory.

Celtic 3 – 2 Hibernian
Celtic ensured Rangers couldn't win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this weekend after coming from behind to beat Hibs.  Robbie Keane converted Aiden McGeady's pass to put Celtic ahead after four minutes but Derek Riordan blasted in a 20-yard leveller two minutes later.  John Hughes' side went in front nine minutes after the break when Josh Thompson brought down Anthony Stokes and the Hibs striker scored from the spot.  But Celtic levelled through Marc-Antoine Fortune with ten minutes remaining from McGeady's cross and Morten Rasmussen won it three minutes from the end when he turned home Fortune's centre.

Hamilton 3 – 0 Kilmarnock
Three late Accies goals ensured their SPL status but increased Killie's woes.  Dougie Imrie fired in the opener with 18 minutes to go and the goal shattered struggling Kilmarnock's resolve.  Flavio Paixao blasted in the second five minutes later and Joel Thomas made it three when he beat Simon Ford before firing home.  Kilmarnock now face a vital visit to St Mirren next Saturday with both sides level on 29 points.

St Johnstone 2 – 2 St Mirren
St Mirren missed a golden opportunity to ease their relegation worries when they conceded two late goals to the Perth Saints.  Gus MacPherson's side had gone ahead through on-loan Graham Carey after 33 minutes and they seemed secure when Andy Dorman's lob made it 2-0 five minutes after the break.  But Michael Duberry bundled the ball in to reduce the deficit with eleven minutes left after John Potter blocked Kenny Deuchar's effort and in injury-time Murray Davidson's drive was handled by Stephen O'Donnell and sub Paul Sheerin levelled from the spot.

Motherwell 2 – 3 Dundee United (Sun)
The Fir Park pitch took the headlines again as Motherwell slumped to their fourth successive defeat.  The visitors went in front after four minutes when Michael Fraser slipped on the surface dealing with Stephen Craigan's backpass and the home 'keeper blasted the ball off Jon Daly into the net.  John Sutton's bulleting header from Tom Hateley's corner got Motherwell level but a corner Mark Reynolds conceded after another bad bounce on the surface was met by Daly, who volleyed home just before the break.  United made it 3-1 just after the interval when Craig Conway accelerated clear of sub Chris Humphrey and fired in but although 'Well finished strongly they couldn't add to another Sutton header from Hateley's cross.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 19 April 2010