Kris Boyd claimed his eighth goal of the season for the Gers in the seventh minute with his 14th in as many games against his former club, before Kenny Miller doubled the advantage for the Scottish champions after 24 minutes.

Steven Whittaker then put the seal on the win with Rangers' third of the day after 35 minutes to pile the pressure on Celtic ahead of their visit to Dundee United on Sunday.

Substitute Jonatan Johansson netted his first goal for St Johnstone to help earn a 2-1 win over 10-man Hearts and inflict more woe on Tynecastle boss Csaba Laszlo.

Hearts striker Christian Nade ended his nine-month goal drought in the 35th minute, but Derek McInnes' St Johnstone side were a different team after the interval and equalised through top scorer Collin Samuel's header on the hour mark.

Referee Stevie O'Reilly then controversially sent off Jose Goncalves and Saints took advantage to claim victory through former Hibs striker Johansson three minutes from time.

Hibernian must continue their decade-long search for a win in Paisley after sharing the points with St Mirren in a hard-fought clash at a blustery St Mirren Park.

The visitors, whose last win at St Mirren was in 1999, took the lead in the 29th minute when Derek Riordan fired them ahead with a wonderful long-range strike before Chris Innes levelled in added time with a header.

The second half was a disappointment in comparison to a lively first 45 minutes in which the home side were denied several more goals due to poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Graham Stack.

Gary McDonald was sent off for celebrating Aberdeen's equaliser against Motherwell but his team-mates held on to save manager Mark McGhee from defeat on his return to Fir Park.

The midfielder headed home midway through the second half after Motherwell goalkeeper John Ruddy had looked set to defy Aberdeen's attempts to equalise Lukas Jutkiewicz's early opener.

McDonald received a second yellow card card for lifting his shirt over his head but it was the 10 men who went closest to claiming all three points.

Falkirk secured a long-overdue first win in the league this season as second-half goals from Chris Mitchell and Lee Bullen saw off Hamilton.

Scotland Under-21 full-back Mitchell broke the deadlock with a stunning free-kick in the 64th minute before veteran striker Bullen blasted home the second 11 minutes from time after coming on as substitute.