Rangers moved back to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League table after a comfortable 3-0 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday.

With Celtic not in action until Sunday, the 'Gers knew a win would take them a point clear of their great rivals and they had the points in the bag by the 35th minute thanks to Kris Boyd's 14th goal in as many games against his former club, and further strikes from Kenny Miller and Steve Whittaker.

Kevin Thomson, Sasa Papac and Kyle Lafferty all came close to further goals for Rangers while Killie's Gavin Skelton forced Allan McGregor into a smart first-half save.

Hibs missed the chance to join Celtic on 24 points as they were held to a 1-1 draw by St Mirren.

John Hughes' men have now gone 10 years without an away win against the Saints but they took the lead in the 29th minute through Derek Riordan's wonderful long-range strike before Chris Innes levelled in first-half stoppage time with a header.

The second half was a disappointment in comparison to a lively first 45

minutes in which the home side were denied several more goals due to poor

finishing and good goalkeeping by Graham Stack

Gary McDonald was sent off for celebrating Aberdeen's equaliser in their 1-1 draw 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.

Falkirk secured a long-overdue first league win of the season as second-half goals from Chris Mitchell and Lee Bullen earned them a 2-0 victory over 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.

Earlier, substitute Jonatan Johansson netted his first goal for St Johnstone to help earn a late 2-1 comeback success over 10-man Hearts at Tynecastle and inflict more woe on 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 for a straight red and Saints took advantage to claim victory through ex-Hibs striker Johansson three minutes from time.