Andrew Driver's second-half goal settled affairs and ensured the hosts secured a fine comeback win.

The Englishman notched the decisive goal after team-mate Christian Nade, in first half injury-time, had cancelled out Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie's superb opener.

The woodwork saved Hearts at the death when Chris Maguire's shot cannoned off the upright.

Hearts climb above Dundee United who could only draw 1-1 at home to Inverness.

In fact it took a late goal from Lee Wilkie to rescue a point for United, who thus avoided a fourth successive defeat.

Eric Odhiambo had returned to haunt his former club when he nodded Thistle into a first-half lead.

But they surrendered the advantage after Russell Duncan was dismissed for a professional foul.

Thistle's point was not enough to gain ground on second-bottom Falkirk as they drew 2-2 at St Mirren.

Scott Arfield's 84th-minute penalty earned the visitors a point.

Home midfielder Andy Dorman scored a double, putting the hosts ahead in each half. However, his first goal was cancelled out by a Carl Finnigan strike shortly before the break, while his well-worked second gave St Mirren the lead for only six minutes before Jack Ross conceded the spot-kick for handling in the box.

David Clarkson's late first-half strike gave Motherwell a 1-0 victory in their Lanarkshire derby with Hamilton.

Superior Accies were stunned seconds before the interval when the Motherwell striker knocked the ball in from 12 yards after goalkeeper Tomas Cerny had parried a Steven Hammell cross.

The win extended the home side's unbeaten run to nine games.

In the day's other game, Kilmarnock and Hibernian had to settle for a share of the points at Rugby Park after Jamie Hamill's 76th-minute strike cancelled out Derek Riordan's first-half opener.