Celtic reduced their support by imposing life bans on two miscreant supporters on Saturday, two Rangers players came close to blows on the field - and Hearts claimed the leadership of the Scottish Premier League.

The Parkhead justice system was swift for those who shouted pro-IRA slogans during the minute's silence for the Omagh dead. The four offenders, two of them season-ticket holders, were identified by fellow spectators, removed by stewards and police and thrown out by the club.

The incident preceded a match in which Celtic were fortunate to beat Dundee United 2-1. Robbie Winters grabbed United a first-half lead, but Craig Burley equalised 10 minutes from time and the 18-year-old Mark Burchill scored the winner three minutes later.

At Kilmarnock, Rangers' Jorg Albertz and Lorenzo Amoruso threatened mutual violence during the warm-down after the Ibrox club's 3-1 victory. The German midfielder and Italian defender, after much finger-wagging, moved menacingly towards each other before team-mates intervened. Amoruso had played a sloppy back-pass which led to Paul Wright's goal for Kilmarnock, reducing Rangers' lead to 2-1 after Rod Wallace had opened the scoring and Albertz had converted a penalty. Charlie Miller scored the third.

Hearts, likely to be the Old Firm's closest challengers again, went top after goals from Steve Fulton and Steven Pressley gave them a 2-0 home win over Aberdeen.