Aberdeen 1 Hibernian 0
Aberdeen made it three games without defeat in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League - but again ended with ten men.  After a tame first-half substitute Peter Pawlett went down after Ivan Sproule's tackle and despite Hibs' protests, referee Craig Thomson awarded a penalty.  Scott Vernon's spot-kick just beat Graham Stack.  However Pawlett was shown a red card soon afterwards for a slide tackle on Lewis Stevenson.  Hibs substitute Akpo Sodje should have saved a point when he wriggled free of Rory McArdle but fired against the legs of 'keeper Jason Brown.  Danny Galbraith sent a volley straight at Brown as Hibs run stretched to six league games without a win.

Hearts 4 Dunfermline Athletic 0
Hearts put their off-field wage problems behind them to record a comfortable win over bottom club Dunfermline.  The Pars paid for static marking as Stephen Elliott turned the ball in from close range after Ryan McGowan's scuffed effort after two minutes.  Both sides had chances before Mehdi Taouil's mishit shot from McGowan's cross evaded goalkeeper Paul Gallacher.  David Templeton fired in the third after Martin Hardie had lost possession then substitute Rudi Skacel headed a stoppage-time fourth after Ryan Stevenson's drive.  Dunfermline's terrible Tynecastle record continues - they haven't won there in 26 visits.

Kilmarnock 1 Dundee United 1
?Paul Dixon blasted in an injury-time equaliser to earn United a deserved point.  Gavin Gunning and Stuart Armstrong of United and Killie's Dean Shiels all hit the woodwork in the first-half then James Dayton cut inside and drilled a fantastic drive into the top corner to give the home side the lead five minutes after the break.  United battled back and levelled when Paul Dixon cut inside and drilled the ball low into the net in the stoppage time.  It meant seven of the last ten meetings of the sides have ended in draws.

Motherwell 1 St Mirren 1?
Motherwell's miserable home record continued as they were held by Saints at Fir Park.  They had a let-off in the first-half when defender Shaun Hutchinson appeared to pull down Jeroen Tesselaar.  Referee Calum Murray awarded a penalty but then changed his mind and penalised Tesselaar for offside.  The deadlock was broken three minutes after the restart when Michael Higdon rose above the St Mirren defence to head in Nicky Law's cross.  However a great strike by Jim Goodwin beat Darren Randolph to level for St Mirren.  A terrific Kenny McLean effort was tipped over the bar in the final minutes, then Craig Samson denied Jamie Murphy at the other end.  Motherwell have won just one of their last eight games at home.

Rangers 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1
The home side survived an onslaught from visitors Caley Thistle to stay top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.  Inverness C.T. had penalty appeals waved away when the ball seemed to hit Jelavic's hand from Richie Foran's flick-on - then Rangers survived a second appeal when Billy McKay claimed he was held by Kyle Bartley.  Gers went ahead when Lee Wallace's cross was chested down by Jelavic and Carlos Bocanegra fired in.  Sasa Papac fired a 30-yarder against Ryan Esson's bar but Caley Thistle levelled when Jelavic was injured in a challenge by Roman Golobart - but the game continued and Andrew Shinnie converted from close range.  Inverness C.T. could've led when McKay rounded Allan McGregor and shot against the post, then Wallace cleared off the line from Jonny Hayes.  Caley Thistle were made to pay for those missed opportunities when substitute Kyle Lafferty drove in the winner from 18 yards with seven minutes remaining.

St Johnstone 0 Celtic 2 (Sunday)
Two goals in four second-half minutes eased Celtic back to within four points of Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.  An even first-half was notable only for a couple of attempts on goal by Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper and a clash which saw both Celtic's Daniel Majstorovic and Scott Robertson of Saints replaced.  Dave Mackay forced Fraser Forster into a save after the break but Celtic were gaining the upper hand and went ahead when Hooper stabbed the ball home in a goalmouth scramble.  Saints' hopes evaporated four minutes later when Ki Sung Yeung finished clinically after a one-two with Samaras.  James Forrest came close to adding a third but Celtic ended the game comfortable winners.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 19 December 2011