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Scottish round-up: Aberdeen tighten grip on second spot

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Highlights from the Scottish Premiership as Aberdeen beat Ross County 1-0

Aberdeen tightened their grip on second spot in the Scottish Premiership with a 1-0 win over Ross County at Pittodrie.

Rangers' 2-1 loss to Inverness on Friday night had presented the Dons with the opportunity to extend their lead over the Ibrox side to nine points and Adam Rooney's second-half strike was enough to seal their 10th win in the last 11 games in all competitions.

It was a fairly even first half before Rooney's bicycle kick and a 20-yard Kenny McLean daisy-cutter drew saves from County keeper Scott Fox.

Ross County's Paul Quinn (L) and Aberdeen's Kenny McLean in action
Image: Ross County's Paul Quinn and Aberdeen's Kenny McLean in action

Aberdeen finally broke the deadlock after 69 minutes when McLean's low cross deflected off Andrew Davies and went in off Rooney's shin.

A section of Motherwell fans staged half-time protests against manager Mark McGhee outside Fir Park as his side shipped five first-half goals against Dundee in a 5-1 loss.

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Highlights from the Scottish Premiership as Dundee win 5-1 at Motherwell

Well's inexperienced defence had an average age of 21 and Zak Jules' early own goal set the visitors on their way to victory after just seven minutes.

The home side equalised in the 22nd minute through Louis Moult but were then hit by three goals in eight minutes as Marcus Haber put his team back in front after 27 minutes.

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Dundee's Marcus Haber (middle) celebrates his goal with James Vincent and Henrik Ojamaa
Image: Dundee's Marcus Haber (middle) celebrates his goal with James Vincent and Henrik Ojamaa

Mark O'Hara then made it 3-1 after collecting Paul McGowan's pass just inside the box before his cutback set up Craig Wighton to score Dundee's fourth.

The away side rounded off the scoring on the stroke of half-time when Wighton's free-kick found Haber unmarked at the back post and he headed into the net.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee cut a dejected figure against Dundee
Image: Motherwell manager Mark McGhee cut a dejected figure against Dundee

Partick Thistle made it back-to-back wins with an impressive 2-0 victory over 10-man Hearts at Firhill.

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Highlights from the Scottish Premiership as Partick Thistle beat Hearts 2-0

Kris Doolan scored his third goal in a week when the striker capitalised on a Lennard Sowah defensive error to give the Jags an early lead.

Kris Doolan celebrates after scoring Partick Thistle's opening goal
Image: Kris Doolan celebrates after scoring Partick Thistle's opening goal

Esmael Goncalves was then shown a second yellow card early in the second half before Liam Lindsay secured all three points for Alan Archibald's men with a powerful strike following a Thistle corner.

Lee McCulloch secured his first win as Kilmarnock interim manager as they beat St Johnstone 2-0 at McDiarmid Park.

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Highlights from the Scottish Premiership as Kilmarnock win 2-0 at St Johnstone

The visitors took the lead in spectacular fashion when goalkeeper Zander Clark's miskicked clearance fell to Rory McKenzie 40 yards out and he showed great composure and awareness to lob the ball back over the stranded Clark into the unguarded net.

Kilmarnock's Rory McKenzie celebrates scoring the opening goal
Image: Kilmarnock's Rory McKenzie scored the opening goal

Kilmarnock then made sure of the win after 71 minutes thanks to Conor Sammon's header from six yards out.

In the Scottish Championship, Hibernian remain top with a seven-point lead after drawing 2-2 at home to Dunfermline.

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Highlights from the Scottish Championship as Hibernian draw 2-2 with Dunfermline

Martin Boyle's sixth-minute strike and Jason Cummings' penalty put Hibs two goals to the good, but Paul McMullan reduced the arrears for the Pars and Kallum Higginbotham netted what proved to be the equaliser shortly after the break.

Mark Durnan rescued a point late on for Dundee United as they drew 1-1 with Greenock Morton at Tannadice.

Dundee United's Mark Durnan celebrates his equaliser
Image: Dundee United's Mark Durnan celebrates his equaliser

Lee Kilday had given the visitors the lead five minutes before half-time but Durnan's equaliser from close range kept United in second spot behind leaders Hibernian.

Elsewhere, Falkirk were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Dumbarton, Queen of the South beat Raith Rovers 2-1 and St Mirren claimed a vital three points in their fight against relegation with a 2-0 win over Ayr United.

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