Aberdeen sink Hibs, Week 22 round-up

Despite playing in Turkey this week, Celtic still are streets ahead of the rest in the Premiership. Their game with Kilmarnock was rearranged to allow them to take part in the friendly cup competition. The week also saw Hearts go down bar the shouting and Motherwell continue their good form.

Second-placed Aberdeen continued their great recent form on Friday. The Dons have won eight of their last nine games, and the fixture against Hibs at Pittodrie to start the weekend was no different. Hibs boss Terry Butcher bemoaned his side’s display in the post-match press conference. Hibs missed two good chances before the break through Irish forward Paul Heffernan, the home side felt they had a stonewall penalty denied as the ball struck Michael Nelson on the arm, but the referee was unmoved. Williams the Hibs goalkeeper kept the score level as he saved Reynold’s close-range header. Barry Robson and McGinn came close towards the end, but three minutes from time, Willo Flood’s 22-yard scorcher won the game for the home side.

Motherwell who are vying for second place with Aberdeen picked up another three points on Saturday at struggling Hearts at Tynecastle. The home side still sit on minus two and are looking doomed for relegation to the Championship. Motherwell who have contrasting fortunes are one point behind second place and have won their last five matches. Motherwell had a few chances through Ainsworth on the half-volley and Vigurs whose effort was poor after some good McFadden work. The only goal of the game came five minutes before half-time. A few mistakes in the Hearts defence allowed former Jambos striker to round MacDonald in the Motherwell goal and finish. Hearts tried to get level in the second half but efforts from Hamill, Stevenson, and Jamie Walker couldn’t find the net.

A six-goal thriller was the order of the day at Firhill. The draw between both sides moves Ross County twenty points ahead of bottom side Hearts. Thistle to this point have still not won a game at home since their promotion. Two on-loan players stole the show for both sides. Fillip Kiss on loan at County from Cardiff and Lyle Taylor on loan at Thistle both scored doubles in the pulsating match. Kiss gave the visitors the lead with a lovely long-range effort. Just minutes later Taylor levelled with a powerful shot. Taylor got his second not long before the interval as he headed the home side into the lead at half-time. Ex-Motherwell midfielder Lawless made it 3-1 to Thistle just two minutes after the restart. Before thistle could settle on that lead, Ben Gordon had pulled one back just three minutes later. Kiss grabbed his second and sixth goal of the game with fourteen minutes to go. Both sides had late chances but neither could take all the points. County’s Stuart Kettlewell was sent off late on for going in studs-up on Ross Forbes.

St Mirren continued their slide akin to the one they suffered at the start of the season. The win for the Perth side moves them up into the top six. Lots of St Johnstone pressure in the first period came to nothing. Wotherspoon, Hasselbaink and Stevie May all had efforts saved by Dilo in the Buddies’ goal. It took the home side until the 71^st minute to open the scoring, it arrived when Murray Davidson headed home David Wotherspoon’s corner. The points were safe when May curled his shot from 20 yards in off the post past Dilo to wrap up an easy three points.

Both sides on poor form Dundee United and Inverness drew in the Highlands. That extended both clubs winless run to five matches. Billy McKay gave the hosts the lead with five minutes on the clock. His eighteenth goal of the season came from a Danny Williams corner that was flicked on by Gary Warren before the Ulsterman found the net. Just five minutes later it was United’s turn to score from a set-piece. Keith Watson rose highest to meet Mackay-Steven’s corner and his header flashed past Dean Brill in the Thistle net. Both sides had a multitude of chances to win the game – most notably Inverness’ Doran who in stoppage time could only find the side netting. As the spoils were shared.