Gers boss Walter Smith was sent to the stand while Rangers and Kilmarnock were both reduced to 10 men as they battled out an explosive goalless draw in the lunchtime kick-off.

Pedro Mendes was dismissed shortly before half-time - the third Rangers player to see red this season after Kevin Thomson and Madjid Bougherra - and Smith's complaints earned him a seat in the Rugby Park stand.

Manuel Pascali then followed Mendes down the tunnel late in a game, with neither side able to find the goal that would seal the three points.

As a result of that, Dundee United could have moved joint-top of the table but they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat against Motherwell.

Ross Forbes scored the winner from the penalty spot but goalkeeper John Ruddy was the real hero as the Steelmen kept up their unbeaten run.

Forbes netted his sixth goal of the campaign from the spot after Jim O'Brien had mesmerised Sean Dillon into bringing him down in the box with 24 minutes remaining.

On-loan Everton keeper Ruddy then pulled off a simply unbelievable triple-save to deny Darren Dods, Danny Cadamarteri and Andy Webster, all from point-blank range, as United blew the chance to go level with Rangers

Well move to fourth on nine points alongside Hibernian, who were 3-0 winners over St Johnstone at Easter Road.

Anthony Stokes hit the headlines for the right reasons as he opened his Hibs account with a double.

Stokes brushed off newspaper reports of an alleged nightclub fracas to fire his new side ahead against the run of play with an opportunist strike from 18 yards.

Derek Riordan doubled the lead before half-time with a long-range drive and Stokes curled home a free-kick to seal the points.

A majestic free-kick from Charlie Mulgrew at the death gave Aberdeen their first home win of the season, 1-0 over 10-man St Mirren.

A dull spectacle came to life in the closing stages when the former Celtic and Dundee United man curled the ball into the back of the net to earn his side all three points.

Lee Mair, playing against his former side, following his summer switch to the Buddies, was given his marching orders for dissent after the goal to cap off a disappointing day for Gus MacPherson's men.

Falkirk remain bottom following their second successive 0-0 draw, this time at Hamilton.

Bairns striker Carl Finnigan's disallowed goal was the most contentious issue in a drab encounter at New Douglas Park.

Accies keeper Tomas Cerny was the busier goalkeeper with his first-half block from Kjartan Finnbogason's volley the pick of his saves.

However, Finnigan did beat him with a close-range header seven minutes from the break, only to see it ruled out by referee Willie Collum for a foul on Martin Canning.