Hearts 1 Rangers 0
Hearts inflicted Rangers' first away defeat of the season and ruined their hopes of a brief return to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. Rangers were the better side for much of the game but couldn't find a way past home 'keeper Marian Kello who made great early stops from Kyle Lafferty and two Jamie Ness drives. Hearts came into the game more after the break when Jim Jefferies made a tactical switch. Ryan Stevenson had started up front on his own but moved back into midfield for the second half - but ironically he scored the winner whilst playing in midfield as he netted from close range following Stephen Elliott's drive. Substitute Nikica Jelavic hit the crossbar with a scissors-kick late on but Rangers were unable to draw level.
Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0
Celtic comfortably won the first stage of their trio of games against the Dons to stay clear at the top of the table. Anthony Stokes' first-half goal was enough to get Neil Lennon's side the points against a side who conceded nine on their last visit to Celtic Park. Stokes struck after 27 minutes when he took Gary Hooper's pass and finished clinically. Aberdeen showed fight after the break and Chris Maguire twice volleyed wide of the post but Celtic could have added to their lead in injury-time when Niall McGinn was denied by Peter Pawlett's tackle.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Hamilton Academical 1
Caley Thistleâs miserable run extended to nine games without a win - even though they got off to a promising start against the league's bottom side. Inverness CT went ahead when Tomas Cerny spilled Nick Ross's drive and Dani Sanchez scored after Adam Rooney's had had a fresh-air swipe at it. Accies levelled before the interval when Ross Tokely tripped Gary McDonald in the penalty box and Mickael Antoine-Curier scored from the spot. Caley Thistle had the better chances after the break but Hamilton almost snatched victory when home old boy Dougie Imrie set up Damian Casalinuovo who forced a save from Ryan Esson.
Kilmarnock 1 Dundee United 1
United finished with nine men but still snatched a late point against ten-man Killie. Alexei Eremenko's cross was touched in by Conor Sammon for the striker's 17th goal of the season but the Finn was shown a straight red card ten minutes after the break for retaliation following Scott Robertson's tackle. Robertson himself walked four minutes later for a second booking after a foul on Rui Miguel - and United went down to nine when Jon Daly was sent packing for a foul on Sammon. United however levelled in injury-time when sub Garry Kenneth's 35-yard drive wrong-footed Cammy Bell.
Motherwell 2 Hibernian 0
Two set-piece strikes won it for Motherwell and piled the pressure on under-fire Colin Calderwood. Jamie Murphy touched home the opener from Stevie Hammell's cross after 20 minutes and defender Steven Saunders headed the second four minutes later from another Hammell cross. Hibs blew a chance to reduce the leeway when Saunders was penalised for handball but Merouane Zemmama blasted the penalty over the bar. Hibs were booed off at the end by their travelling support - they've now gone 451 minutes without a goal, and they also had assistant manager Derek Adams sent to the stand.
St Johnstone 0 St Mirren 0
There had been just four goals scored in the four previous games between the sides so the goalless draw came as no surprise. The home side fashioned the few chances which arose, with visiting 'keeper Paul Gallacher making good saves from Chris Millar and Collin Samuel. Jim Goodwin's header wide was the closest St Mirren came to snatching a winner.
By
cbfootball.co.uk
Last updated: 24 January 2011