Inverness moved level on points with second-placed Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership table after a 2-1 win at St Mirren. The away side dominated for long spells but ultimately were made to battle for their three points as St Mirren almost made them pay for their lack of a finishing touch in front of goal. Greg Tansey scored a third minute opener, with the passing and movement of Inverness impressive at times. Ryan Christie scored the second goal just before the hour mark, then a Jim Goodwin header dragged St Mirren back into the match with 22 minutes remaining.
Gary Locke recorded a dramatic 3-2 victory in his first game since being named as the caretaker manager of Kilmarnock as they ended Dundee United’s unbeaten run of seven games. United opened the scoring with an early penalty from Nadir Ciftci before Josh Magennis equalised for the home side. The visitors restored their lead when Henri Anier opened his account for the club after 13 minutes, but Killie levelled again through Chris Johnston in the second half. It was Killie who were celebrating at the end when Sammy Clingan snatched maximum points deep into injury time with a stunning free-kick.
Ross County ended a seven-match losing run at home with a thrilling 3-2 victory against fellow strugglers Motherwell at Victoria Park. County led at half-time through a superb Martin Woods strike after 34 minutes, but Conor Grant equalised from a free-kick early in the second half. The home side looked to have put the game beyond Well, with goals from Paul Quinn and Raffaele De Vita, but the visitors made sure of a grandstand finish, with Fraser Kerr scoring 11 minutes from the end.
An injury-time winner from Paul McGowan moved Dundee into sixth position in the Scottish Premiership as Partick Thistle left Dens Park bitterly disappointed with the 1-0 defeat. Paul Hartley’s side leapfrogged Tayside rivals St Johnstone in the table thanks to McGowan’s goal.
In the Championship, midfielder Jamie Walker continued his rich vein of form as Hearts beat 10-man Livingston with a 1-0 win at Tynecastle to extend their lead to 20 points. Walker fired home from close range five minutes before half-time at the second attempt after his first effort was blocked by a Livi defender for his fifth goal in six games. Moments earlier, Walker shot straight at the Livingston goalkeeper, Darren Jamieson. James Keatings and Prince Buaben missed chances to extend Hearts’ lead before Livingston’s Nejc Praprotnik was sent off for a second booking in the 74th minute. Genero Zeefuik and substitute Billy King passed up good opportunities towards the end, but it didn’t matter, as Hearts – who won 3-2 at Livingston last Saturday – had done enough. Callum Fordyce had gone close to giving Livi the lead in the 33rd minute, but his header from a corner was cleared off the line.
