Rangers moved to within a point of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a convincing 4-0 home victory against Hibernian .
Their top goalscorer, Nikica Jelavic, missed the match at Ibrox through illness but the captain, Steven Davis, scored twice and David Healy and Sone Aluko scored a goal apiece against a Hibs side who were reduced to 10 men in the second half.
With Celtic in Scottish League Cup action on Sunday, the victory allowed Rangers to give their title hopes a much-needed boost.
It proved to be a debut to forget for Hibs' James McPake, who was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Maurice Edu after 71 minutes, with the American midfielder withdrawn for Lee McCulloch.
The afternoon got worse for the Edinburgh club when Rangers netted their third goal from the resultant free-kick three minutes later. Aluko had been instrumental in much of the game and was rewarded with a goal of his own when he sent a curling effort into the top corner, leaving Mark Brown with no chance.
Davis then put the gloss on the win deep into injury-time when he drove home from 10 yards .
Scott Vernon's 10th goal of the season helped Aberdeen move into the top six of the SPL with a 1-0 victory over Dunfermline.
With Kilmarnock on cup duty and Dundee United without a fixture, the Dons took full advantage to move above the pair and into the top half of the table for the first time under Craig Brown's tenure.
The Dons striker Vernon capitalised when Dunfermline's goalkeeper, Iain Turner, raced from his line to try to collect Mark Reynolds's searching ball upfield and headed the ball over the stranded Turner to score the only goal of the game after 24 minutes.
Joe Cardle should have earned his side a point two minutes from time when he latched on to Rory McArdle's slack backpass, but Brown denied the Dunfermline substitute to ensure the Dons held out for the win.
Henrik Ojamaa struck twice as Motherwell defeated St Johnstone 3-2 in a thrilling match.
Ojamaa opened the scoring midway through the first-half before Jody Morris levelled for Saints on the stroke of half-time.
The Estonian restored the hosts' lead after 65 minutes. Having regained the lead, Motherwell began to show more of an attacking threat and Tom Hateley flashed a shot well wide after good build-up play between Omar Daley and Ojamaa.
The hosts doubled their advantage with 15 minutes remaining when Keith Lasley ended a swift breakaway with a 25-yard effort that looped over Peter Enckelman.
Murray Davidson blazed over the bar from six yards as Saints attempted to find a way back into the game before they were handed an even better chance when the referee, Calum Murray, pointed to the spot after Davidson was fouled by Lasley. Sandaza converted it to set up an exciting conclusion, but St Johnstone could not find an equaliser.
Inverness's new signing Claude Gnakpa was the star of a goalless draw with St Mirren – the first scoreless game in the Highland capital for three years.
The Frenchman – who signed on Saturday – came on with 25 minutes to go and came closest to scoring with a low shot that struck the inside of the post. St Mirren's Steven Thompson was the visitors' main threat.
