SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGE REVIEW
Scotland: Rangers head top, Hearts broken
Kris Boyd claimed his eighth goal of the season as Rangers returned to the summit of the Premier League with a 3-0 win over Kilmarnock - and further strengthened his case for a Scotland recall.
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Kris Boyd opens the scoring for Rangers
The striker, who could see his international career resurrected by the new manager after walking out on George Burley over a year ago, set the ball rolling with his 14th goal in as many games against his former club, before Kenny Miller doubled the advantage for the Scottish champions.
Steven Whittaker then put the seal on the win with Rangers' third of the day to pile the pressure on Celtic ahead of their visit to Dundee United on Sunday.
Substitute Jonatan Johansson netted his first goal for St Johnstone to help earn a late 2-1 comeback success over 10-man Hearts and inflict more misery on Jambos boss Csaba Laszlo.
Christian Nade ended his nine-month goal drought in emphatic style in the first half but Derek McInnes' side were a different team after the interval and equalised through top scorer Collin Samuel's header. Referee Stevie O'Reilly then controversially sent off Jose Goncalves with a straight red card and Saints took advantage to claim victory through former Hibernian striker Johansson three minutes from time.
Gary McDonald was sent off for celebrating Aberdeen's equaliser against Motherwell but his team-mates held on to save manager Mark McGhee from defeat on his return to Fir Park. The midfielder headed home midway through the second half after Motherwell goalkeeper John Ruddy had looked set to defy Aberdeen's attempts to equalise Lukas Jutkiewicz's early opener.
McDonald received a second yellow card for lifting his shirt over his head but it was the 10 men who came closest to claiming all three points.
Hibernian continue their decade-long search for a win in Paisley after sharing the points with St Mirren in a hard-fought clash at a blustery St Mirren Park.
The visitors, whose last win at St Mirren was in 1999, took the lead in the 29th minute when Derek Riordan fired them ahead with a wonderful long-range strike before Saints defender Chris Innes levelled in added time with a header.
Falkirk secured a long-overdue first win as second-half goals from Chris Mitchell and Lee Bullen saw off Hamilton to close the gap at the basement to one point.
Scotland Under-21 full-back Mitchell broke the deadlock with a stunning free-kick in the 64th minute and veteran striker Bullen blasted home the second 11 minutes from time after coming on as substitute.
