Scottish Premier League round-up:Goals from James Forrest and Scott Brown helped Celticbeat St Mirren2-0 in Paisley to extend their winning run in the league to 12 games and took them four points clear of Rangers, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Aberdeen.
In a game which was spoiled by the wind Celtic’s best effort in the first half was Gary Hooper’s long-distance strike which Craig Samson saved while Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster made a string of saves, the best being from former Parkhead midfielder Paul McGowan.
But in the 71st minute Forrest took a pass from Brown and beat Samson from the edge of the box before the Hoops skipper grabbed number two with three minutes remaining.
Rangers were forced to fight back from behind to earn a draw against Aberdeen.
Kari Arnason opened the scoring in the second half, before Maurice Edu levelled four minutes later but neither side had the cutting edge to claim the winner.
The result was not enough for the Dons to end a wait of more than two decades for a win at Ibrox but they would have headed back to Pittodrie the happier of the two sides with the outcome.
A stunning late winner from Francisco Sandaza secured a 3-2 win for
St Johnstone
over
Hibernian
after a breathless encounter at Easter Road.
On-loan debutant Lee Croft opened the scoring in the first half with a fine low finish. That lead was cancelled out in the second period, through a Leigh Griffiths penalty.
However just seconds later wasteful defending allowing Liam Craig to restore the Perth side’s lead.
Hibs, displaying admirable character, made it 2-2 through Callum Booth’s neat finish. But Pat Fenlon’s side failed to defend and the excellent Sandaza found the space to fire home a super late winner to secure all three points for St Johnstone.
Shane Sutherland’s header secured in-form
Inverness
a 1-0 victory at home to
Hearts
in a game largely dominated by the Highlanders.
The attacker pounced from close range in the 49th minute to help Terry Butcher’s men close the gap on the Premier League’s top six.
It was Inverness’s second consecutive 1-0 league win against a team sitting third in the league before kick-off, having seen off Motherwell in their last outing.
Caley Thistle also extended their unbeaten streak to six games, while ending the Edinburgh club’s own six-game undefeated run in the process.
Michael Higdon’s late equaliser gave
Motherwell
a deserved 1-1 draw with
Dundee United
.
Trailing to a first-half own goal from captain Stephen Craigan, Stuart McCall’s side battled back and missed a string of chances before Higdon struck in the 85th minute.
It ends a run of three successive defeats for the Fir Park side, but they still dropped down to fifth place.
Dundee United are still searching for their first victory of 2012 but the draw moved them back into the top six.
Dunfermline
recorded their first win in almost three months as they hammered
Kilmarnock
3-0 at Rugby Park.
Andrew Barrowman opened the scoring with five minutes remaining in the first half and Joe Cardle doubled the visitors’ lead on the hour mark.
With three minutes remaining Liam Buchanan added a third to ensure Dunfermline’s first ever Premier League victory at Rugby Park.
