Hearts go six points clear, Rangers Sterling service, Aberdeen top form table, and more - Scottish Premiership review

Hearts go six points clear

Falkirk 0-2 Hearts

Braga (2’), Kingsley (77’)

A potential banana skin avoided for Derek McInnes’ side who go six points clear of Celtic. High-flying Falkirk weren’t quite up to the Hearts test, admitted by John McGlynn, although the Bairns did cause problems for Hearts throughout the game.

Hearts were well familiar with the issues Falkirk could cause them, having been knocked out of the League Cup last season while Falkirk were still in the Championship.

But the Jambos wasted no time, scoring after just 96 seconds, after Lawrence Shankland’s effort rattled off the crossbar, but Claudio Braga followed in to head home the rebound. Steinwender almost doubled the lead just ten minutes later, as his header from a corner was deflected just wide.

Just before half-time, there was major controversy; Kyrell Wilson ran through on goal and rounded Alexander Schwolow, but his shot was blocked on the line by Harry Milne’s arm. VAR checked and cleared it and deemed that it was tucked in, but there have been many similar cases where it’s been given.

Scott Bain was called into action again in the second half, with Kyziridis’ cross into the box being met by Claudio Braga, whose header was goal-bound before an excellent Bain save denied the Portuguese forward. It was an unlikely hero to help seal all three points for Hearts, as Stephen Kingsley found himself with the ball 25 yards out and struck a beauty that Bain couldn’t get to, rattling into the back of the net.

Hearts secure another vital win and face Rangers at Tynecastle next. Falkirk stay 7th and face Kilmarnock next, who have just sacked Stuart Kettlewell.

Late Livi comeback leaves Dundee in despair

Livingston 2-2 Dundee

Bokila (64’), Yengi (85’); Dhanda (13’), Congreve (18’)

Despite being behind for most of the game, Livingston fans will feel a mix of relief for getting something from the game and disappointment they haven’t secured their first win since August after dominating, having 65% possession and having 15 shots to Dundee’s six.

Steven Pressley’s men came out of the blocks flying, with Jerome Prior spilling an Ethan Hamilton shot from long range straight to Yan Dhanda, who was left completely alone to turn in the rebound. Just five minutes later, Tony Yogane showed brilliant pace and skill to drive down the wing, cut back, and deliver a pinpoint ball to the back post, where Cameron Congreve was waiting to double The Dee’s lead.

David Martindale’s side fought back, though, with Scott Pitman being denied by Jon McCracken after a great team move. Cristian Montano also came close, again producing an excellent save from McCracken. It was Montano who finally broke the Livingston backline with a perfectly weighted ball through to Bokila, who did well to get to the ball before Dee defender Koumetio and finished well to get Livi back into the game.

The equaliser eventually did come. Macaulay Tait put a deep ball into the box and found its way to Tete Yengi, whose header snuck through the legs of McCracken to the despair of the 25-year-old. In injury time, Ryan McGowan was shown a straight red for pulling down Emile Acquah, who was through on goal.

It’s a point that doesn’t help either side much, as both are struggling to find wins, Livingston’s first and only win coming in their second matchday against Falkirk on August 9th.

Stalemate in Dundee

Dundee United 0-0 Motherwell

It was a stalemate at Tannadice, but it will have been The Arabs were more disappointed by the result given their chances. Motherwell came into this game third in the table and had won five of the last six meetings between the Steelmen and the Tangerines.

It was Motherwell who started the brightest, with Callum Hendry getting on the end of a good ball into the box, but his header didn’t have the power to trouble Dave Richards. Dundee United worked their way back into the game, as Watters went through on goal, and when he took a stumble, he claimed he had been tripped by Iurie Iovu, but upon replay it was clear there was no contact.

Dundee United piled on the pressure in the second half, Troyes loanee Amar Fatah having multiple chances to open the scoring, including a shot from the edge of the box that went just wide. Craig Sibbald even tried his luck from the halfway line, having Calum Ward worried for a few moments.

Motherwell were starved of chances in the second half, with Ibrahim Said’s effort from outside the box being their best opportunity to take the lead, but it also went just wide. A frustrating afternoon for Jim Goodwin, as his side are now winless in their last seven and fall to 8th. Jens Berthel Askou’s side have not been caught by Rangers and they fall to 4th.

Aberdeen top the form table and complete late comeback

Aberdeen 2-1 Kilmarnock

Bilalovic (79’), Karlsson (85’, P); John-Jules (17’)

The two sides came into this fixture in conflicting form, with Kilmarnock nine games without a win, while Aberdeen have turned their disastrous start to the season around and now sit top of the form table (last 10 games).

Despite this, Kilmarnock were the ones to strike first; when Keskinen slipped on the ball, James Brown capitalised, putting Tyreece John-Jules through one-on-one with Mitov with a killer ball. The 24-year-old coolly finished with a dink over the Bulgarian.

It almost got even worse for The Dons when Ross Hardie initially awarded a spot kick for Kilmarnock after a supposed handball from Jack Milne, but he was asked to go to the screen for another look and overturned it.

Jimmy Thelin’s men once again showed the resiliency they’ve had of late, coming with a flurry of chances in the second half. Half-time substitute and captain Graeme Shinnie has his effort blocked on the goal-line by James Brown. Adil Aouchiche had an effort cannon off the bar to deny an equaliser once more.

It seemed as if it wasn’t going to be Aberdeen’s day when Jesper Karlsson’s long-range free kick was spilt by Oluwayemi, but Dante Polvara’s close-range effort on the rebound was unbelievably saved by the keeper again.

The equaliser finally did come; Stuart Armstrong fed Kevin Nisbet with a ball over the top, where the forward drove to the by-line and cut-back to Kenan Bilalovic to grab his first Dons goal. It got even better just six minutes later when Ross Hardie awarded The Dons a penalty when Brad Lyons was penalised for a hand ball. Jesper Karlsson made no mistake and struck home to put The Dandies in front.

Aberdeen managed to rack up an impressive 3.53 xG and continue their climb up the table, now just three points off 3rd with a game in hand. For Kilmarnock, it was the end of an era for Stuart Kettlewell, as he was given his marching orders after the loss.

Sterling service for Rangers as they climb to 3rd

Rangers 1-0 Hibs

Fernandez (35’)

Rangers have had an impressive resurgence since Russell Martin was dismissed, with ten games unbeaten in the league going into this game, whilst Hibs had lost two of their last three games, albeit to Celtic and high-flying Motherwell.

Hibs almost took the lead in the 29th minute when Warren O’Hora’s header from a corner was goal-bound before it was miraculously cleared off the line by Dujon Sterling. To the Hibees' dismay, just six minutes later they were made to pay; Dujon Sterling’s pinpoint delivery into the box was met by centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez, heading home to grab the lead for the Gers and his third goal in just ten games for the Glasgow side.

Fellow centre-back Nasser Djiga found himself in the box in the second half and went down looking for a penalty, but it was quickly waved away by Don Robertson for clear simulation.

Rangers thought they had doubled their lead when substitute Djeidi Gassama put the ball into the back of the net from a fast break, but the linesman flag was up straight away to halt any celebrations. Raphael Sallinger kept the score respectable, denying big chances from Chermiti and Diomande.

Rangers extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games and moved above Motherwell to 3rd, while Hibs stay 4th but have Aberdeen breathing down their neck now.