Scottish Premiership round-up: Celtic restore four-point lead as Hearts recover and Hibs stay bottom

Celtic restored their four-point lead over Rangers with a 2-1 comeback win at Hibernian, while Hearts responded to last weekend’s heavy defeat by beating Motherwell 2-0.

Rangers had increased the pressure with Saturday’s 4-0 victory over St Johnstone. Dundee United, St Mirren and Falkirk also won, leaving Hibs bottom after another difficult afternoon at Easter Road.

Durán restores Celtic’s advantage

Camilo Durán scored the winner as Celtic recovered from conceding inside the opening three minutes.

Owen Elding put Hibs ahead inside 3 minutes, but Hibs defender Jason Kerr’s own goal quickly brought the visitors level. Durán then curled in the decisive finish before half-time, securing Celtic’s ninth victory from 10 league matches.

As The Times’ report details, the win came in difficult weather and brought concern over Alistair Johnston, who went off after coming on as a substitute. Martin O’Neill hoped the problem was cramp, but it was later confirmed to be a hamstring issue.

Celtic have 27 points, four more than Rangers. Hibs remain on seven, a point behind both Motherwell and Kilmarnock.

The result preserved the gap established during last weekend’s Premiership programme, despite Rangers winning convincingly at Ibrox.

Kelsy double keeps Rangers in pursuit

Kevin Kelsy scored twice as Rangers beat St Johnstone 4-0, with Ryan Naderi and substitute Tochi Chukwuani also on target.

Kelsy opened the scoring before the break. Naderi doubled the advantage in the second half and Kelsy struck again before Chukwuani completed the scoring.

St Johnstone substitute Kai Fotheringham was sent off following a VAR review of his challenge on Nico Raskin, as reported by The Times.

The victory took Rangers to 23 points. Their next league assignment is away to third-placed Hearts, making the midweek trip to Tynecastle an immediate test of their ability to maintain pressure on Celtic.

Hearts respond as Motherwell’s losing run reaches six

Hearts recovered from their 7-1 defeat at Celtic with a 2-0 victory at Fir Park.

Claudio Braga headed the visitors ahead in the 29th minute and Calvin Miller also scored as Hearts secured their first win in three matches.

Sky Sports’ report confirms the result condemned Motherwell to a sixth successive Premiership defeat.

Hearts remain third on 19 points, four behind Rangers and four ahead of Dundee United. Motherwell are 10th on eight points, with only goal difference separating them from Kilmarnock.

For Hearts, the clean sheet was an important part of the response after conceding seven the previous weekend. For Motherwell, another defeat leaves little room for further setbacks.

Sapsford settles five-goal contest at Tannadice

Dundee United moved into fourth with a 3-2 win over Aberdeen, Zac Sapsford scoring the decisive goal in the 72nd minute.

Zidane Iqbal put United ahead before Nesta Guinness-Walker equalised. Dylan Tait restored the home side’s lead, only for Connor Ronan to bring Aberdeen level again after the interval.

Sapsford’s finish finally separated the sides. United then resisted late pressure to secure the points, as detailed in their official match report.

United have 15 points, one more than Dundee. Aberdeen sit ninth on 11, with the defeat preventing them from closing the gap on the top six.

St Mirren hold on after Dundee hit the bar

St Mirren beat Dundee 2-1 to end their losing run, with Calvin Ramsay and Eseosa Sule giving the hosts a two-goal advantage.

Ramsay opened the scoring after 20 minutes and Sule headed in the second in the 56th. Bradley Fink pulled one back, setting up a tense finish.

Dundee almost rescued a point when Ethan Hamilton struck the underside of the crossbar in stoppage time, according to the club’s match report.

St Mirren finished the weekend sixth on 13 points, just one behind Dundee. The narrow margin between them underlined the significance of holding out.

Falkirk strengthen their position with comfortable win

Falkirk beat Kilmarnock 3-0 to move seventh, level on 12 points with St Johnstone.

Two of the three goals were own goals by the visitors with Kilmarnock failing to register a shot on target.

The result was backed by a clear difference in attacking threat: Sky Sports’ match statistics recorded eight shots on target for Falkirk and none for Kilmarnock.

Killie remain 11th on eight points, one above Hibs. Falkirk, meanwhile, are only a point outside the top six.

Scottish Premiership results

Date	Fixture	Result
Saturday 24 October	Dundee United vs Aberdeen	3-2
Saturday 24 October	Falkirk vs Kilmarnock	3-0
Saturday 24 October	Rangers vs St Johnstone	4-0
Saturday 24 October	St Mirren vs Dundee	2-1
Sunday 25 October	Hibernian vs Celtic	1-2
Sunday 25 October	Motherwell vs Hearts	0-2

How the table stands

The SPFL’s official table shows all 12 clubs have played 10 matches.

Position	Club	Points
1	Celtic	27
2	Rangers	23
3	Hearts	19
4	Dundee United	15
5	Dundee	14
6	St Mirren	13
7	Falkirk	12
8	St Johnstone	12
9	Aberdeen	11
10	Motherwell	8
11	Kilmarnock	8
12	Hibernian	7

Hearts against Rangers is the standout midweek fixture, while Celtic host Dundee United. Both challengers therefore face opponents in the top four as the title race continues.