Celtic 1  Rangers 0
Celtic leapfrogged Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League thanks to Joe Ledley's second-half header.  The home side made it nine wins in a row and comfortably held out after Ledley's 52nd minute strike.  But they had good fortune when Lee Wallace's sixth-minute header appeared to cross the line before Fraser Forster clawed it clear - and ref Willie Collum waved play on.  Celtic did most of the pressing in a disjointed first half but the best chances fell to the visitors, who have now dropped eleven points in their last seven outings.  Carlos Bocanegra also had a first-half chance when Sone Aluko's corner was nodded down by Nikica Jelavic and the American could only scoop the ball wide from close range.  Celtic took the lead when Ledley outjumped Kirk Broadfoot at the back post to power in a header from Charlie Mulgrew's corner kick.  Rangers launched a series of hopeful balls forward in the closing minutes but Celtic were able to preserve their lead with little trouble.

Aberdeen 0  Hearts 0
Aberdeen couldn't make the breakthrough against a strong-willed Hearts at windblown Pittodrie.  The home side had most of the pressure but Hearts survived to make it three successive clean sheets.  Kari Arnason came close for the Dons with a drive which whistled into the side netting.  The home side came close with two late efforts, first when Ryan Jack's drive spun off Scott Vernon and looped just wide of Marian Kello's goal, then in the final minute Jack's cross hung in the air and Rob Milsom did well to direct it goalwards - but his effort sailed on to the top of the net.  Disappointing Hearts didn't manage a shot on target all night.

Hibernian 1  Inverness CT 1
New boss Pat Fenlon's wait for his first win as Hibs manager continues - but the Irishman picked up his first point against Inverness.  Garry O'Connor's eighth-minute free-kick gave Hibs an early advantage, but after Richie Foran had hit the post, a terrific individual goal by Jonny Hayes levelled the scores before the interval.  Hibs almost snatched victory when Sean O'Hanlon got on the end of Danny Galbraith's corner but Foran blocked the header.  The draw moved Hibs a point clear of Dunfermline, who have a game in hand after their match at Motherwell was postponed, while Caley are now five clear of the Pars.

Motherwell v Dunfermline postponed because of structural damage caused by wind at Fir Park.

St Johnstone 2  Kilmarnock 0
Saints moved to within two points of third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League thanks to two Francisco Sandaza goals.  The striker opened the scoring after 25 minutes after Dave McKay's effort was cleared, then doubled his tally in first-half injury time, powering in a header from Liam Craig's corner.  Kilmarnock's best chance came when Paul Heffernan's volley was well saved by 'keeper Peter Enckleman - though sub Danny Racchi followed up his goal against Celtic by firing against the post.  Sandaza has now hit twelve goals in 16 starts.

St Mirren 2  Dundee United 2
All four goals in a Paisley thriller came in the space of ten first-half minutes.  Saints forward Stephen Thompson reacted first to convert Graham Carey's cross to give his team a 27th-minute lead.  But United drew level when Jon Daly rifled the ball low into the net, before Carey responded almost immediately with a fine long-range strike.  However Stuart Armstrong completed the scoring ten minutes before the break, when he headed home Gary Mackay-Steven's cross.  Johnny Russell almost gave United a half-time lead, but Craig Samson blocked his shot at the end of a solo run.  The action continued after the break with Mackay-Steven hitting the post and David van Zanten and Aaron Mooy both watching efforts go close.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 29 December 2011