SPL Review:Rangers' commanding lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League was trimmed to eight points after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Motherwell while Celtic were 2-0 winners at home to Hearts.
Kris Boyd struck an equaliser 10 minutes from full-time to deny Motherwell a rare victory over the reigning champions at Fir Park.
Well had gone ahead after 28 minutes thanks to Tom Hateley - the son of former Rangers hero Mark Hateley - who fired in a stunning free-kick that left goalkeeper Allan McGregor with no chance.
The hosts looked like they would hold on to that advantage and inflict only a second league defeat on Walter Smith’s side before Boyd, who was making his first start after a double hernia operation, stepped up to grab a share of the spoils.
Celtic grabbed their two goals inside two second-half minutes to inch closer to their city rivals.
After a frustrating opening period, Glenn Loovens put the Hoops ahead in the 49th minute when he converted with his second attempt following a Diomansy Kamara corner.
A minute later Marc-Antonie Fortune calmly slid in a second after being sent clear by Aiden McGeady.
Abdessalam Benjelloun stepped off the substitutes’ bench to score an 88th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot as Hibernian came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Aberdeen.
The Dons took a 2-0 lead into half-time after goals from Michael Paton and recent signing Steven MacLean.
Anthony Stokes pulled a goal back five minutes after the break before Benjelloun’s equaliser, which meant Hibs only slipped four points behind Celtic.
At the other end of the table, Hamilton lifted themselves out of last place thanks to a goal from each of the Paixao twins as they defeated a lacklustre Dundee United 2-0.
Flavio Paixao fired Accies ahead when Darren Dods failed to deal with Trent McClenahan’s cross and the striker found the top corner from eight yards.
Billy Reid’s men doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Marco Paixao reacted quickest after his header had been well saved by Dusan Pernis.
Falkirk slipped into the relegation places after they lost 1-0 at home to Kilmarnock. Craig Bryson scored the game’s only goal after 58 minutes.
Michael Higdon rescued a point for St Mirren as they drew 1-1 with fellow strugglers St Johnstone.
David Mackay opened the scoring for the Perth club after 33 minutes before Higdon’s leveller 19 minutes from the end.
Selected Cross-channel results
Scottish Premier League
Celtic 2 Hearts 0
Dundee United 0 Hamilton 2
Falkirk 0 Kilmarnock 1
Hibernian 2 Aberdeen 2
Motherwell 1 Rangers 1
St Mirren 1 St Johnstone 1
Premier League
Arsenal 1 Liverpool 0
Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1
Blackburn 1 Hull 0
Everton 2 Chelsea 1
West Ham 2 Birmingham 0
Wolverhampton 1 Tottenham 0