Rangers slip up as Celtic move seven clear

SPL Review: Celtic moved seven points clear at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League as Shaun Maloney's 29th-minute strike was enough to see off Inverness at Parkhead.

The champions looked flat in the wake of their European exit at the hands of Aalborg in midweek but did enough to stretch their lead at the summit as title rivals Rangers slipped up at Tynecastle.

The one highlight of a turgid game was when Maloney capitalised on a fine pass by Shunsuke Nakamura to fire past Ryan Esson and give Gordon Strachan's side their 12th straight SPL win in a row.

In the early kick-off, Rangers' title hopes were dealt a major blow when they slumped to a 2-1 defeat against 10-man Hearts.

Goals from Marius Zaliukas and Laryea Kingston put the hosts 2-0 up and an own goal from Christos Karipidis failed to alter the outcome despite the home side playing the final 14 minutes a man down after Lee Wallace was sent off for a second yellow card.

Hearts admitted ahead of the game that their players had not been paid for the second time this season but, with five win bonuses on the trot now, the Edinburgh side will be hoping funds are in their accounts as promised on Monday.

Second-half strikes from Gary McDonald and Lee Miller gave Aberdeen a 2-0 win against a lacklustre Motherwell in Jimmy Calderwood's 200th game in charge of the club.

McDonald headed the Dons into the lead after 61 minutes with only his second touch after replacing the injured Andrew Considine.

The Dons then doubled their advantage four minutes later with a Miller penalty after Paul Quinn had been sent off for a last-man challenge on Darren Mackie.

A header from Hibernian substitute Colin Nish prevented Falkirk from celebrating 'Russell Latapy Day' with a victory.

The Bairns held the upper hand throughout and took the lead with a header from skipper Darren Barr after 68 minutes.

However, with veteran Latapy left on the bench, Nish popped up to nod in with eight minutes remaining after Rob Jones had outjumped home keeper Scott Flinders at Alan O'Brien's corner.

Jon Daly's double returned Dundee United to winning ways as St Mirren's poor finishing consigned them to the bottom of the table.

Daly headed home in the 37th minute and Dennis Wyness missed a glaring chance to level just after half-time.

Saints then struggled to break the visitors down but Stephen McGinn hit the bar just before Daly sealed three points with a late penalty.

Richard Offiong's goal saw Hamilton move off the bottom of the table as they recorded their first win since September 13.

The striker netted early in the second half, his third goal in as many games, to give the New Douglas Park side a 1-0 home win over Kilmarnock, only their fourth victory of the season.

It was Kilmarnock who had looked the likelier scorers in an uninspiring first half, but they were unable to find a way back after Offiong's ultimately decisive strike, substitute Donovan Simmonds squandering their best chance by firing well over from just five yards out.