Wins for Celtic and Hibernian

Soccer – SPL Review: Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-0 win over Kilmarnock with…

Soccer – SPL Review:Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-0 win over Kilmarnock with Hibernian holding onto second.

Tony Mowbray's men have struggled at Parkhead this season, but they breezed to victory over Killie to pull three points clear of second-placed Hibs and four in front of inactive city rivals Rangers.

In a one-sided first half, goals from Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras gave the home side a deserved lead which could have been more convincing but for some slack play in the final third.

Although Killie skipper Kevin Kyle missed three good chances with his head, Hoops substitute Niall McGinn, on for Paddy McCourt in the second half, put a proper perspective on the game when he grabbed the third in 78 minutes.

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Hibs were 2-0 winners over nine-man Aberdeen but had to be patient for the three points at Easter Road.

Given half an hour to secure the victory after second-half red cards for Dons duo Maurice Ross and Chris Maguire, John Hughes' men were struggling until substitute Colin Nish popped up to net in the 88th minute. Liam Millar doubled the tally in injury time.

Two goals in the space of three second-half minutes sealed St Johnstone's first home victory of the season - 3-1 over winless Falkirk.

Bairns substitute Carl Finnigan cancelled out Collin Samuel's second-minute opener only three minutes after the break but Chris Millar and Murray Davidson earned the Perth side the win.

Hearts' troubles continued as Ross Forbes scored another spectacular goal to move Motherwell up to fourth in the table.

The midfielder lashed home a 55th-minute volley to claim his ninth goal of the season. It proved the only goal against a Hearts side who then lost Eggert Jonsson for a professional foul.

In the day's other game, Hamilton claimed their second win by beating 10-man St Mirren 2-0 to edge further away from the danger zone.

Goals from Marco Paixao and Martin Canning at St Mirren Park allowed them to put four points between themselves and bottom side Falkirk.

Saints' misery was compounded by the dismissal of Lee Mair in the second half.