Ten-man Motherwell stayed hard on the trail of second-placed Rangers in the Scottish Premier League with a convincing 3-0 victory over Hearts at Fir Park.
Last season's champions have been docked 10 points after going into administration. Motherwell are now six points adrift with a game in hand.
Keith Lasley's deflected shot off Andy Webster and a Jamie Murphy header gave the Steelmen the advantage at the interval. But the Well skipper Lasley was sent off five minutes after the break for picking up a second yellow card, both for fouls on Gorgie midfielder Ian Black.
Motherwell shrugged off the numerical disadvantage and the midfielder, Nicky Law, finished off a fine move in the 65th minute by driving the ball past Jamie MacDonald to seal the win.
Black was replaced by Taouil to the delight of the home fans who watched their side play at times as if they had the man advantage.
Tom Hateley fired a free-kick, from wide on the left, inches over the bar in the 78th minute as the visitors slowly ran out of steam and belief. In the 86th minute, more good work from Henrik Ojamaa on the left ended when he fired the ball to the back post.
But the striker, Michael Higdon, allowed it to go under his foot with the goal gaping, although the flag might have been raised had he put the ball in the net. In the end, it was a comfortable win for the home side, who will have Rangers firmly in their sights in the weeks ahead.
Dundee United and St Mirren fought out a goalless draw at Tannadice, the visitors' fourth draw in five matches, although neither side showed enough to merit a victory. The substitute, Nigel Hasselbaink, could have won the contest for Danny Lennon's St Mirren in the closing stages, but he was unable to guide the ball into the net from a cross by Dougie Imrie.
The home side's midfielder, John Rankin, fired in a shot that was deflected wide for a corner as the home side tried to break the deadlock.
Hasselbaink could have scored a late winner for the Buddies, but the Dutchman, who was sent off when the sides met at Tannadice earlier in the season, was unable to turn Imrie's cross past Dusan Pernis in the United goal.
There was still time for Imrie to test Pernis from long distance, but the Slovak goalkeeper was equal to the winger's low drive.
Dunfermline missed the chance to move off the bottom of the SPL table after being held to a 1-1 draw by Inverness at East End Park.
Joe Cardle pounced on a loose ball to score the opener just before half-time, but Nick Ross grabbed a deserved equaliser after 75 minutes.
With Hibernian not in action, victory would have lifted Jim McIntyre's struggling side above their relegation rivals.
The home side took the lead when Cardle won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Martin Hardie's effort crashed off the bar. Caley could not clear the loose ball and Cardle reacted quickest to drill home from six yards. After Cardley's opener, Shane Sutherland headed over from eight yards out after 65 minutes, as Caley chased the equaliser.
The home side were full of confidence and Gary Mason's 20-yard drive rolled inches wide.
Inverness kept pressing and the goal finally arrived with 15 minutes left. Jonny Hayes was the provider with a low cross that Ross swept in at the back post.
Neither side gave much away in the closing stages, but Ryan Esson produced a brave save at Liam Buchanan's feet. The Dunfermline striker then headed over from six yards out and his side's search for a first home victory of the season continued .
Hibernian host Celtic at Easter Road on Sunday and are augmented by the return of Leigh Griffiths, Paul Hanlon and James McPake from suspensions. Aberdeen entertain St Johnstone in the early kick-off, with the Dons having lost only one of their past 13 games.
