Cláudio Braga and Stephen Kingsley were on target as a resurgent Hearts won 2-0 away to misfiring Falkirk on Saturday night to move six points clear at the top of the Premiership. Buoyed by ending a four-game run without a victory with last Sunday’s triumph against their title rivals Celtic, the Jambos raced into an early lead through Braga. Hearts – who survived a Bairns penalty claim just before half-time – had to dig deep to keep their advantage intact before the substitute Kingsley killed off the Bairns’ hopes of getting back into the game with a brilliant strike in the 77th minute (pictured).
Celtic, who play St Mirren in the League Cup final on Sunday, have two games in hand.
Jim Goodwin admitted he understood why the Dundee United fans booed at the final whistle of the 0-0 Premiership draw with Motherwell. The result meant that the Terrors have now failed to win in their last seven matches. However, United manager Goodwin was determined to accentuate the positives, with his side keeping their first clean sheet since 23 September when they beat Aberdeen 2-0.
The Irishman said: "We understand the frustration from the supporters. They turned out in great numbers again today. We've kept a clean sheet against a really, really good team. I'm going to give my players a bit of credit, off the back of a really disappointing performance last weekend.
"We're not happy not to win the game. We don't set up to draw games of football. But we set up in a way out of respect to the opposition. Motherwell are a very good possession-based team. I think they're probably, at this moment, the best team in the country in terms of how they play the game."
Livingston fought back from two goals down to salvage an important point from a 2-2 draw in the bottom-of-the-table Premiership clash with Dundee. The visitors took control of the game with two goals in quick succession in the first half from Yan Dhanda and Cameron Congreve. After being booed off at the interval, Livingston improved in the second half and deservedly pulled one back through Jeremy Bokila. Then, just moments after coming on from the bench, Tete Yengi knocked an effort through the legs of Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken in the 85th minute. The draw moved Livingston to within three points of second-bottom Kilmarnock while Dundee climbed to 10th, four points better off than the Lions.
On Sunday, Aberdeen's improved form continued with a 2-1 comeback victory over struggling Kilmarnock, whose winless run stretched to 10 games. The Dons toiled in the first period and were fortunate to trail by just one goal at the interval after Tyreece John-Jules opener the scoring for the visitors. But the hosts upped the tempo in the second half and Kenan Bilalovic levelled before Jesper Karlsson tucked home a late penalty to extend their unbeaten league run to seven matches. PA Media