Dundee 1 Aberdeen 3
Aberdeen won convincingly at Dens but it was a win achieved at a cost with defender Andy Considine suffering a broken leg. He was stretchered off after 30 minutes and will be out for three months. Aberdeen recovered from the set-back to go ahead when Niall McGinn converted a Jonny Hayes cross, and he finished off another Hayes’ cross with a glancing header to double the lead. Sub Mark Stewart pulled one back for the home side to set up a fighting finish but McGinn completed his hat-trick in the final minute when he reacted quickest after Rab Douglas’ save.
Hibernian 1 Celtic 0
Celts boss Neil Lennon took responsibility after Leigh Griffiths’ early goal sunk his side. Lennon admitted playing three at the back had contributed to the result as Hibs moved up to within three points of Inverness and Motherwell in the table. Griffiths broke the deadlock when he darted between Thomas Rogne and Fraser Forster on to Paul Hanlon’s long ball and finished well. Eoin Doyle saw a header saved by Forster as Hibs continued to dominate the early stages. Celtic sub Beram Kayal blasted over as Celtic tried to salvage a point and Ben Williams saved from Gary Hooper but his side hung on for victory – their first win in five games.
Motherwell 2 Kilmarnock 2
Motherwell fans paid tribute to the late Phil O’Donnell with a round of applause after ten minutes – but they had to come from two goals behind to rescue a point. Borja Perez put Killie ahead from James Dayton’s drive after 13 minutes and the visitors increased their lead when Darren Randolph saved from Michael Nelson and Paul Heffernan converted the rebound. But Jamie Murphy pulled one back when he touched home after Nicky Law drove in Chris Humphrey’s cross and Estonian Henrik Ojamaa levelled with a solo run and finish which went in off the post. It was the fourth draw in the last six matches between the sides and may turn out to have been Murphy’s last home game for Motherwell, with manager Stuart McCall admitting he’s set for a move to England.
Ross County v Hearts – match postponed, pitch waterlogged
St Johnstone 0 Inverness C. T. 0
Caley Thistle remained unbeaten in seven Clydesdale Bank Premier League games but they couldn’t break down Saints at McDiarmid Park. Billy McKay shot wide and Alan Mannus saved from Andrew Shinnie as the visitors started brightly. But David McCracken saw a header cleared off the line as Saints also had their opportunities. Caley had scored in every game this season but couldn’t break down a well-drilled home defence – but the draw means they have now gone ten away games unbeaten.
Dundee United 3 St Mirren 4
Struggling United have won only two of their last nine games after defeat at home to St Mirren. Paul Dummett put the visitors ahead from Gary Teale’s cross but he conceded the penalty from which United levelled, barging Jon Daly, who scored from the spot. United went in at the break ahead when Stuart Armstrong’s long-range drive beat Craig Samson but Saints equalised through Steven Thompson soon after the re-start. Marc McAusland put St Mirren ahead from Teale’s free-kick and United’s problems increased when defender Brian McLean was sent off for a foul on John McGinn. David van Zanten’s cross-cum-shot made it 4-2 and although Barry Douglas pulled one back with a last-minute free-kick, United couldn’t rescue a point.
By cbfootball.co.uk Last updated:
31 December 2012