Hoops skipper Stephen McManus and Cillian Sheridan fired the home side ahead before Steven Fletcher's drive deflected off Colin Nish and past Artur Boruc just before the break.

Five minutes after the interval Fletcher levelled from a Nish cross but with 15 minutes remaining, Glenn Loovens, on at half-time for McManus, headed in a Shaun Maloney corner before Scott Brown grabbed number four.

Gordon Strachan's side hold a three-point lead over Rangers, who came from behind to defeat new-boys Hamilton 3-1 earlier in the day.

Accies threatened to spring a surprise when Brian Easton opened the scoring for the home side but two goals from Kris Boyd hauled Rangers back into the game before Nacho Novo wrapped up the win.

It was the first game since Boyd's controversial decision to quit playing for Scotland while George Burley remains at the helm, and Novo's even more surprising revelation he would probably be willing to switch allegience from Spain.


Two goals in the last five minutes gave Dundee United a 2-0 victory over St Mirren in their first game since the death of chairman Eddie Thompson.

St Mirren survived an early onslaught and had several chances themselves but substitute Roy O'Donovan lofted the ball over Mark Howard with five minutes left.

Craig Conway soon lashed home a second as the United fans hailed their latest win by singing Thompson's name.

Hearts defender Lee Wallace secured a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen after cancelling out Darren Mackie's opener at Tynecastle.

The Dons opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Mackie took advantage of defender Marius Zaliukas' error, but left-back Wallace equalised just seven minutes later, working a one-two with Christian Nade before finding the net.

Hearts were denied a late penalty after referee Steve Conroy changed his mind despite initially pointing to the spot for Jamie Langfield's challenge on Michael Stewart.

Steve Lovell scored and was sent off as Falkirk moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 triumph at Kilmarnock.

The Englishman, who had a first-minute goal ruled offside, struck a volley in the first half with team mate Scott Arfield doubling the visitors' lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half.

Lovell then received a straight red card after 70 minutes for a clash with home defender Jamie Hamill.

Kilmarnock, who saw David Fernandez and Craig Bryson denied by impressive saves from visiting goalkeeper Scott Flinders on either side of the interval, managed an injury-time consolation from substitute Donovan Simmonds, but Falkirk hung on for their first away win of the season.

Motherwell came from a goal down to beat Inverness 2-1 on a wet and windy day at the Caledonian Stadium.

Adam Rooney had given the home side the lead two minutes into the second half with a composed run and finish.

However, Chris Porter equalised when he linked up well with John Sutton and Mark McGhee's side took all three points back to Fir Park thanks to a beautiful, curling free-kick from Bob Malcolm.