INT SPL - Scottish Premier League

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Rangers 3-0 Clyde: McCoist’s side extend their league advantage

The Third Division leaders maintain their 100% home league record as goals from Lee Wallace, David Templeton and Dean Shiels extend the gap on Elgin to 12 points.

Goals from Lee Wallace, David Templeton and Dean Shiels helped Rangers claim their ninth victory in a row against Clyde.

The victory for Ally McCoist’s side sees them move 12 points clear of second place Elgin City at the top of the Third Division.

 

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Dundee 0-2 Celtic: Samaras & Hooper hand Hoops a comfortable victory

The Dark Blues relegation woes continue as a two-goal home defeat sees the Dens Park side fall nine points behind their nearest rivals at the bottom of the SPL.

Goals in either half from Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper helped Celtic extend their advantage at the summit of the SPL against bottom side Dundee.

The defeat sees the Dens Park side fall further behind both St Mirren and Ross County, who both picked up vital points earlier in the day.

 

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Queen’s Park 0-1 Rangers: Injury-time Aird strike helps visitors claim derby victory

An injury-time strike from substitute Fraser Aird helped Rangers claim their tenth win in a row against Queen’s Park.

The amateur side had looked to have claimed a welcome point despite the sending off of James Brough, but were ultimately denied.

 

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Hibernian 1-0 Celtic: Early Griffiths strike hands host victory

An early strike from Leigh Griffiths and a heroic performance from keeper Ben Williams helped Hibernian claim victory against league leaders Celtic.

The Parkhead side had been looking to continue their impressive form, which had seen Neil Lennon’s side concede only one goal in their five previous league fixtures.

 

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Dundee 1- 3 Aberdeen

A hat-trick from Northern Ireland international Niall McGinn helped Aberdeen cruise past relegation strugglers Dundee.

The game failed to spark into life in the first half with the only incident of note being a serious injury suffered by Aberdeen’s outstanding defender Andrew Considine.

But immediately after the break, the Dons took the lead after a short corner from Jonny Hayes found McGinn and from close range he smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net, beyond Dundee keeper Rab Douglas.

Midway through the second half McGinn claimed his second of the game, with Hayes once again providing the assist, as his cross was headed home by the Dons forward to put the visitors in command.

Substitute Mark Stewart managed to pull one back for the Dark Blues a minute after coming on as he got onto the end of a Colin Nish head flick to get the SPL’s bottom side back into the game.

As the game approached the closing stages, Aberdeen secured the three points, when Hayes' powerful shot was parried by Douglas and as the former Scotland international went to retrieve the rebound, McGinn was on hand to claim his hat-trick.

 

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Motherwell 2-2 Kilmarnock

Motherwell came back from two goals down to claim a point against Kilmarnock on an emotional day for the Fir Park outfit.

The crowd inside the Lanarkshire ground stood in applause on the 10th minute in tribute to former Fir Park legend Phil O’Donnell who collapsed and later died during a game with Dundee United five years ago.

However it was the visitors who took the lead as Borja Perez turned and shot from the edge of the penalty area, giving Motherwell keeper Darren Randolph no chance, as the ball flew into the net.

The home side then started to dominate the play, but it was Kilmarnock who doubled the lead as Randolph managed to save a Michael Nelson header, but Paul Heffernan was there to bury the rebound into the Motherwell goal.

However within the space of four minutes Motherwell found themselves on level terms, first Jamie Murphy got onto the end of a Chris Humphrey cross from the right wing to reduce the Ayrshire side’s advantage.

A point was secured for the Steelmen when Henrik Ojamaa came in from the left hand side and drilled the ball past Cammy Bell in the Kilmarnock goal.

 

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St Johnstone 0-0 Inverness CT

Inverness CT drew a blank for the first time this season as St Johnstone managed to claim a point against the Highland side.

The visitors had the better of the early chances, with both Billy McKay and Andrew Shinnie having efforts, but neither could find a way past Alan Mannus in the St Johnstone goal.

At the opposite end, Inverness’ Spanish shot-stopper Antonio Reguero was on top form as he saved from Liam and then from Gregory Tade and also David McCracken as the Perth side piled the pressure on their opponents.

Chances were few and far between later in the game, with Aaron Doran having an effort for Inverness CT and Tade having yet another chance to put St Johnstone into the lead but both sides were forced to settle for a point.

 

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Annan Athletic 1-3 Rangers: Templeton & Crawford continue visitors’ title charge

Rangers continued their impressive promotion push as a double David Templeton and a Robbie Crawford strike claimed victory at Annan Athletic.

A first half strike from Ally Love had looked to have given the managerless club life after Templeton’s opener, but the Ibrox men soon found top gear to secure yet another win.

 

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Aberdeen 2 -2 Dundee United

A wonder free kick from Niall McGinn helped spare keeper Jamie Langfield’s blushes and snatch a point for Aberdeen in their derby fixture against Dundee United.
The home side had started the brightest and went into the lead when youngster Cammy Smith cut the ball back for Scott Vernon to rifle beyond The Terrors' goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak and into the back of the net.

Dundee United managed to get back on level terms as Gavin Gunning headed home after a Jon Daly effort was cleared off the line by Venron, straight into the path of the Irish defender, who made no mistake from close range.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half the visitors took the lead, when with Willo Flood near to him, Langfield somehow managed to allow a strike from Johnny Russell to go through both his arms and legs and into the Aberdeen goal.

Aberdeen got level in the second half, as McGinn curled a free kick round the Dundee United wall and past Cierzniak, who looked helpless watching the ball drift into the net for the equaliser.

 

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Celtic 1-0 Motherwell

Celtic striker Gary Hooper found the target in the second half to send the league leaders into the winter break with a win over Motherwell.

The Parkhead side also had keeper Fraser Forster to thank, after the giant English stopper made a crucial save from a Tom Hateley penalty with the sides level.