Kevin Thomson's first goal for Rangers since signing from Hibernian 14 months ago made the difference as the home side, who also have a game in hand over Celtic, took a giant step towards the SPL title.

There was only a minute of the first half remaining when the £2million midfielder played a one-two with Jean-Claude Darcheville before firing past goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston put a dent in Dundee United's third-place hopes by resurrecting his side's top-six ambitions with a first-half winner in front of club owner Vladimir Romanov.

The Ghana international lit up a dull spell by showing great composure to beat Lukasz Zaluska in the 27th minute to give Hearts a 1-0 home win.

United's Noel Hunt missed a great chance to equalise before the break, while Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas blasted over in the 59th minute with the goal gaping.

United, hoping for a place in the UEFA Cup, finished the game with nine men when Garry Kenneth and substitute Danny Swanson were sent off in the late stages.

Motherwell moved alongside United, who retain third place on the basis of the better goal difference.

David Clarkson's second-minute strike gave Motherwell a 1-0 home victory against Hibernian, whom the Steelmen leapfrogged to move into fourth place.

The forward's early goal - his team's first in four matches - proved to be the only one of the game at Fir Park.

Substitute Clayton Donaldson had Hibs' best effort 10 minutes from time, but was denied by a superb block by home goalkeeper Graeme Smith.

Craig Dargo scored his first St Mirren goal in a 2-0 win over Gretna, whose relegation was confirmed with the defeat at Love Street.

Dargo put the Buddies in front after 27 minutes and Billy Mehmet doubled the home side's lead shortly after the interval.

Gretna avoided humiliation as their depleted squad fought to impress the watching scouts, who were looking for those Gretna stars worth rescuing if the remainder of the playing staff are left looking for work this summer.

The club lost players in midweek when administrators made nine first-team men redundant and axed 13 youth players.

At the Caledonian Stadium, Substitute Chris Maguire score four minutes into injury-time to hand Aberdeen victory over 10-man Inverness - keeping the Dons firmly in the frame for a top-six finish.

Aberdeen's Sone Aluko broke the deadlock early on, before Dave Bus scored an own goal and Russell Duncan's 25-yard-drive gave Inverness the lead.

Barry Nicholson equalised in the 45th minute and then Russell Duncan was sent off during the half-time break. Second-half goals from Lee Miller and Roy McBain meant a 3-3 draw looked likely, only for Maguire to head in at the death to hand Aberdeen a dramatic victory.

John Hughes saw his Falkirk side draw a blank for the second weekend in a row as the Bairns missed a big chance to tighten their grip on sixth spot by drawing 0-0 with Kilmarnock.

The Bairns boss was satisfied with last week's goalless draw at Hearts, but Saturday's result leaves Falkirk clinging to the final top-six place as the split - which sees the league divided in half after the next round of games - approaches.

Falkirk's best chance fell early in the game to striker Carl Finnigan, but Alan Combe saved from the former Newcastle reserve.