Hearts stayed clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after scoring twice late on to secure a 3-1 victory over Motherwell. The result helped them preserve their lead in a tightly contested title race, while Celtic continued to apply pressure with a narrow win of their own.
Celtic moved up to second place after beating St Mirren 1-0 at Celtic Park. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the only goal of the game in the first half, a strike that proved enough to take all three points and briefly lift Celtic above Rangers in the standings.
Rangers are not in action until Sunday, when they travel to Falkirk. Victory there would cut Hearts’ lead back to one point, keeping the championship race finely balanced.
Hearts strike late to pull away
For long periods, Hearts were made to work hard by Motherwell, but two late goals changed the shape of the match and underlined their resilience. The eventual 3-1 scoreline gave them another important win as the season enters a decisive phase.
Motherwell had hoped to take something from the match, but Hearts found the finishing touch when it mattered most. The late double allowed them to avoid any late slip at the top of the table and remain in control of their title challenge.
Celtic edge St Mirren
At Celtic Park, the pressure was on for the home side to keep pace with the leaders. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first-half goal settled the contest and ensured Celtic left with a crucial victory.
The result moved Celtic into second place, ahead of Rangers for the time being, and kept them firmly in the mix as the Premiership race continues to tighten.
Aberdeen end winless run
Elsewhere, Aberdeen ended their winless run by beating Hibernian 2-0. It was a welcome return to form for Aberdeen, who had been searching for a result to get their league campaign moving again.
The win added another significant result to a day that saw the top end of the table remain crowded, with Hearts holding first place, Celtic moving into second, and Rangers still to play their game in hand.
With several clubs still in contention and little separating the leading sides, the Scottish Premiership title race looks set to stay tense over the coming rounds.
