A late winner from substitute Craig Beattie sent Celtic back to the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 2-1 win over managerless Hearts at Tynecastle yesterday.

Last year's champions Celtic have 92 points, two clear of Rangers, who beat Motherwell 4-1 on Saturday, with one match each to play. Celtic travel to Motherwell while Rangers face third-placed Hibernian next Sunday.

"It will be another monumental effort by us and we have to do it, there is no other alternative, we have to go and win the game," Celtic manager Martin O'Neill said.

Alan Thompson opened the scoring in the 25th minute with an angled shot which deflected off Hearts defender Robbie Neilson and away from keeper Craig Gordon.

Hearts' Paul Hartley swept home the equaliser on 71 minutes following a surging run by Neilson through the midfield.

Chris Sutton headed off the underside of the bar and on to the goal line on 75 minutes. Beattie, who replaced John Hartson, snatched the winner a couple of minutes later after a good run and pass from Stilian Petrov.

Hearts' misery was complete when captain and joint caretaker coach Steven Pressley was sent off two minutes from time for his second bookable offence for diving in the box under a challenge.

Pressley was put in temporary charge of Hearts with reserve and under-19 coach John McGlynn following the departure of manager John Robertson last week.

A goal in the 89th minute from Gary Mason virtually secured Dunfermline's top flight status as they beat Dundee United 1-0.

The win for caretaker manager Jim Leishman hoisted Dunfermline off the bottom of the 12-team table into ninth on 34 points. Livingston are 10th, also on 34 points but with a worse goal difference.

Dundee dropped to bottom with 32 points while Dundee United are one place above them on 33 points.