Hearts miss chance to go second

Hearts missed out on the chance to go second in the Scottish Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by Aberdeen yesterday.

The last time the sides met in December the Dons were hammered 5-0 at Tynecastle, a result which left them at the foot of the table, but this was a much tighter affair.

The hosts created the better chances but found Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello in fine form, the Czech making two excellent saves to deny Sone Aluko and Rory McArdle in the first half.

The Tynecastle outfit enjoyed more of the play in the second half but rarely troubled Jamie Langfield in the Aberdeen goal.

William Gros marked his first start for Kilmarnock with a goal as the Ayrshire side consolidated fourth place with a 2-0 victory over St Mirren.

Gros finished well in the 13th minute after a through-ball from Alexei Eremenko, who doubled the lead with a speculative effort before the half-hour mark.

Substitute Kenny McLean lifted St Mirren after the break but his long-range strike against the post was the closest they came.

Callum Booth and Lewis Stevenson were on target as Hibernian claimed a fourth successive SPL win with a 2-0 victory over Inverness at Easter Road.

Victor Palsson had a header blocked on the line in the first half before Booth lofted a volley over Ryan Esson and into the visitors’ net after 58 minutes and substitute Stevenson struck a deflected second after 89 minutes.

Scottish Premier
Aberdeen 0 - Hearts 0
Hamilton 1 - Dundee Utd 1
Hibernian 2 - Inverness CT 0
Kilmarnock 2 - St Mirren 0

Today
Motherwell-Celtic - 13:45
Rangers-St Johnstone - 16.00

First Division
Dundee 1 - Morton 1
Falkirk 2 - Cowdenbeath 0
Queen of South 1 - Dunfermline 3
Raith Rovers 2 - Stirling 1
Ross County 0 - Partick Thistle 0

Second Division
Ayr 2 - Brechin 0
East Fife 0 - Airdrie Utd 1
Forfar 2 - Dumbarton 1
Livingston 4 - Alloa 0
Stenhousemuir 4 - Peterhead 2

Third Division
Albion 0 - Berwick 1
Annan Athletic 2 - East Stirling 1
Clyde 4 - Stranraer 2
Elgin 3 - Arbroath 2
Montrose 0 - Queen’s Park 2