Inverness remain level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership after defeating Motherwell 3-1 at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
The home side took the lead in the 29th minute, when Billy McKay ran clear of the defence, but managerless Motherwell equalised two minutes later through Henrik Ojamaa.
In the second half, Caley Thistle displayed more of the qualities that have resulted in them staying level on points at the top, and they regained the lead through a Marley Watkins close-range header on 70 minutes. Josh Meekings secured the points eight minutes later when he slid in to meet a corner kick at the back post.
Dundee United returned to winning ways as they saw off struggling Kilmarnock 3-1 at Tannadice, to stay third in the table.
Jackie McNamara’s side made up for their 1-0 defeat away to Motherwell before the international break by overcoming Allan Johnston’s side thanks to goals in the first half from Nadir Ciftci and Stuart Armstrong. Substitute Aidan Connolly then sealed matters in stoppage time.
Manual Pascali had equalised for Killie in the 38th minute but Armstrong put the hosts back ahead four minutes later before Connolly’s late strike sentenced the visitors to their fourth straight defeat.
James McFadden inspired St Johnstone to victory over Ross County, 2-1. His first-half opener deservedly gave the McDiarmid Park side the upper hand at half-time, and it was an advantage they doubled after the interval when Michael O’Halloran made up for an incredible earlier miss, from point-blank range, by rifling home his shot. Jake Jervis pulled one back immediately for the Highlanders, who pressed strongly in search of an equaliser, but time was against them and the hosts held on.
Victory will give Saints heart ahead of the Scottish Cup tie between the two sides in seven days’ time, but the way County put their hosts under considerable pressure late on will have also given them belief for the rematch.
Goals by Tony Andreu, Mickael Antoine-Curier and Ali Crawford gave Hamilton victory at St Mirren.
The 3-0 win barely reflected the dominance the Accies enjoyed in the match, with St Mirren only threatening when the game was out of sight.
A 56th-minute goal from Jason Holt – and a late penalty by Jamie Walker – sent Hearts on their way to a 2-0 victory, and nine-point lead, over 10-man Rangers in their Scottish Championship match. The recalled Holt swept an excellent shot home following a half-cleared cross to continue his side’s perfect home record following a keenly contested match in front of a sell-out 17,004 crowd at Tynecastle. Walker sealed victory with an 88th-minute penalty after being brought down by Ian Black. There were nine yellow cards but it was the 21st-minute sending off for Rangers midfielder Steven Smith that defined the contest as his poor challenge on Callum Paterson deep inside the Hearts half put his team under pressure following a good start for the visitors.
