Goals from Steven Naismith and Barry Ferguson sealed the win at Ibrox and, with Celtic out of action this weekend following the postponement of their game against Motherwell, it was enough to put Rangers top of the table by a point.

It may not have been as emphatic as the 5-0 thrashing dished out to United in Walter Smith's first game a year ago but the win would have been welcomed against a side who had inflicted one of Rangers' few defeats of the season.

Andrius Velicka averted a seventh consecutive defeat for 10-man Hearts but the hosts still slipped into the bottom two of the table after a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock.

Calum Elliot became the fourth Hearts player to be sent off this week after being booked twice in seven minutes and Paul Di Giacomo marked his first Kilmarnock appearance of the season with a 45th-minute opener.

However, Hearts came out fired up for the second half and put Killie under pressure after Velicka had bundled home a deserved equaliser.

A freak goal by Ian Maxwell and a strike by Gary Mason before the interval were enough to give St Mirren a 2-1 win over Hibernian at rain-soaked Love Street.

After just five minutes the Saints left-back attempted a cross from wide on the left but the ball evaded Hibs keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay before going in off the far post. Mason then grabbed number two moments before the interval.

An 88th-minute goal from Hibs striker Mickael Antoine-Curier provided a last few nervy moments for the home side - but their win was deserved.

Falkirk and Aberdeen warmed up for next weekend's Scottish Cup clash with a goalless draw on an afternoon of controversy.

After Falkirk dominated the first half without carving out the chances their build-up play deserved, the match was turned on its head when home midfielder Scott Arfield was red-carded.

The advantage of an extra man allowed Aberdeen to gain the upper hand late on and substitute Jeffrey de Visscher saw his net-bound header cleared off the line by substitute Russell Latapy amid a frantic finish.

Marius Niculae scored his fourth double of the season as three goals in eight first-half minutes handed Inverness a comprehensive 3-0 victory over lowly Gretna.

The Highland club opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Russell Duncan's lengthy run set up Niculae, who scored with a low shot from 30 yards.

John Rankin then converted a penalty after Niculae had been fouled by Chris Innes, before the Romanian found the net again three minutes before the break through a downward volley following Ross Tokely's cushioned header.