Celtic 1 Motherwell 0
Celtic ended 2010 top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League after a narrow win against managerless Motherwell.  However they will go into Sunday's Old Firm game without skipper Scott Brown after his late red card.  Olivier Kapo, on his first Celtic start, came close to giving his side an early lead but his effort was chalked off for offside - but it only delayed Celtic going in front after 27 minutes, when Paddy McCourt took Mark Wilson's corner and created an opening before firing into the net.  Joe Ledley shot wide as Celtic sought to add to their lead but they lost Kapo then sub Daryl Murphy to injury either side of the interval.  Motherwell, who expect to soon announce Stuart McCall as their new manager, attempted to get back into the game but rarely threatened Fraser Forster - though they had an advantage late on when Brown, who'd already been booked, was shown a red card by ref Stephen Finnie following a tackle on Stevie Hammell.  lts - who were watched by prospective new signing Freddie Ljungberg - are now a point clear of Rangers at the top of the table but have played two games more than their rivals.

Hamilton Accies 0 Aberdeen 1
Craig Brown continued his good start as Aberdeen manager with victory in the 100th meeting of the sides.  Scott Vernon's injury-time goal won it for the Dons after Jamie Langfield made a great first-half save from Dougie Imrie's long-range drive.  Ryan Jack and Sone Aluko created the opening and Vernon snatched the win for Brown's side.  Accies have now scored just once in their last six games and stay bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table.

Hibernian 2 Dundee United 2
Paul Hanlon struck a late equaliser to make Dundee United pay for Danny Swanson's ordering-off.  David Goodwillie put the visitors ahead after only two minutes and made it 2-0 after 35 minutes from Paul Dixon's cross.  United were forced to play striker Jon Daly in central defence because of Garry Kenneth's suspension and Hibs were back in the game when Derek Riordan's free-kick was touched on to the post by Dusan Pernis and Sol Bamba headed in the rebound.  Swanson was booked immediately after coming on as a sub and shown a second yellow 16 minutes later for handball - with United manager Peter Houston later admitting he was "disgusted" with his player.  Hibs pushed forward and Hanlon levelled with a drive into the top corner two minutes from time.

Inverness CT 1 Kilmarnock 3
Killie's great run of form continued with a comprehensive win at Invermess which moved them into fourth place.  Craig Bryson put them ahead after 26 minutes after Ross Tokely's tackle robbed Conor Sammon of a shooting chance - then Liam Kelly headed the second from Ben Gordon's cross.  The home side pulled one back through Richie Foran's drive but Killie restored their two-goal advantage when Ryan Esson fouled Craig Bryson and Jamie Hamill scored from the spot at the second attempt after Esson saved his first effort.

St Mirren 0 Hearts 2
Hearts closed to within five points of Rangers after a second-half win over Saints.  The visitors dominated but couldn't find the breakthrough until David Templeton scored after a solo effort shortly after the hour.  And they wrapped up the win when John Potter pulled Templeton down and was red-carded.  Kevin Kyle slammed in the spot-kick.

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St Johnstone v Rangers : match postponed.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 30 December 2010