Hearts in title mix

Hearts turned the Scottish Premier League title race into a rare three-horse race yesterday as they defeated champions Rangers 1-0.

Table-toppers Celtic extended their lead to five points over Rangers later in the afternoon as they beat Aberdeen 1-0, but their bitter Glasgow rivals have two games in hand whilst Hearts, who are seven points adrift of the leaders play the Bhoys next up.

Ryan Stevenson was the Hearts star as the midfielder’s late goal clinched the three points, inflicting Rangers’ first away defeat of the season, and gives the ‘Jam Tarts’ a genuine chance of claiming what would be their fifth league title, but first since 1960.

Aberdeen were handed a record 9-0 defeat the last time they visited Celtic Park but in the first of three matches in the space of nine days between the sides, Celtic needed an Anthony Stokes strike – his fourth goal in three matches – in the 27th minute to settle the match.

Elsewhere, Inverness versus Hamilton and Kilmarnock against Dundee United ended 1-1, it was goalless between St Johnstone and St Mirren and pressure mounted on Hibernian boss Colin Calderwood as his side lost 2-0 to Motherwell.

Premier League
Celtic 1 - Aberdeen 0
Hearts 1 - Rangers 0
Inverness CT 1 - Hamilton 1
Kilmarnock 1 - Dundee United 1
Motherwell 2 - Hibernian 0
St Johnstone 0 - St Mirren 0

First Division
Cowdenbeath p - Partick Thistle p
Dundee 1 - Falkirk 0
Queen of South p - Ross County p
Raith Rovers 2 - Morton 2
Stirling p - Dunfermline p

Second Division
Ayr 2 - Peterhead 2
Brechin p - Alloa p
East Fife p - Dumbarton p
Livingston p - Forfar p
Stenhousemuir 1 - Airdrie United 0

Third Division
Arbroath p - East Stirling p
Clyde p - Albion p
Elgin 2 - Stranraer1
Montrose 0 - Annan Athletic 1
Queen’s Park 1 - Berwick 0