Kilmarnock 0 Dunfermline Athletic 3
Liam Buchanan was Dunfermine’s hero, creating two and scoring the other as his side closed to within a point of Hibs at the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table. The visitors had already gone close before Buchanan capitalised on Mo Sissoko’s error just before the break and set up Andy Barrowman for the opener. Killie also contributed to the second Pars goal, when Buchanan robbed Zdenek Kroca to set up Joe Cardle for number two. Buchanan completed the scoring three minutes from time to give Jim McIntyre’s side their fourth league win of the season.
St Mirren 0 Celtic 2
Celtic made it twelve successive wins in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and opened up a four-point lead over Rangers at the top. However they had to battle hard to overcome a battling Saints side. Fraser Forster saved from Marc McAusland early in the first-half then made a good stop from new St Mirren signing Dougie Imrie soon after the break. However Celtic made the breakthrough when James Forrest drove home from Scott Brown’s pass – before Brown himself clinched victory with a low drive two minutes from time.
Dundee United 1 Motherwell 1
Motherwell skipper Stephen Craigan set an unwelcome SPL record with his eighth own goal for his side – but the Fir Park side were still able to rescue a Tannadice point. Omar Daley had already tested Dusan Pernis before Craigan turned in Paul Dixon’s cross under pressure from Johnny Russell. Higdon had already gone close before Motherwell sub Henrik Ojamaa set the Englishman up for a crisp finish five minutes from time. The draw means United have won only two of the last ten meetings of the clubs.
Hibernian 2 St Johnstone 3
Hibs were plunged back into the relegation mire as Saints grabbed a last-gasp Easter Road win. St Johnstone debutant Lee Croft – on loan from Derby County – fired his side ahead and the visitors had more chances to score before Steven Anderson was penalised for a push on Leigh Griffiths and the striker scored from the spot. However Liam Craig immediately restored Saints’ lead but Callum Booth seemed to have earned his side a point six minutes from time with a curling shot past Peter Enckleman. St Johnstone however had other ideas and grabbed a late winner when Fran Sandaza found room and fired past Mark Brown with three minutes remaining.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Hearts 0
Caley Thistle grabbed their second successive win to open up a gap between themselves and second-bottom Hibs. Hearts' Jamie Hamill hit the bar with a long-range effort and Inverness C.T. defender Kenny Gillet had a goal ruled out for offside before the break. But four minutes into the second-half Shane Sutherland beat Marian Kello with a header from Jonny Hayes’ cross. Hayes came close to adding a second for the home side in the last ten minutes, but the winger was foiled by Kello.
Rangers 1 Aberdeen 1
Rangers fell further behind in the title race as they dropped two points to Aberdeen. Nikica Jelavic had an early header touched over by Jason Brown and Lee Wallace’s saw his effort hit the post early in the second-half – but Aberdeen shocked Rangers when they went ahead after 63 minutes. David Healy lost possession and Chris Clark set up Kari Arnason who beat Allan McGregor with a curling shot. Maurice Edu equalised for Rangers four minutes later with a deflected drive from the edge of the box but although Brown saved from Sone Aluko in injury-time, the home side couldn’t find a winner. After the match it was revealed that West Ham have held discussions with Rangers about striker Nickica Jelavic.
By cbfootball.co.uk Last updated:
23 January 2012