Rangers moved six points clear at the top of the table with victory over Hibernian, while Dundee United moved into third after their win over Motherwell.
Elsewhere, Kilmarnock picked up a morale-boosting win with a 4-1 success over Inverness and St Mirren earned a draw at Aberdeen.
Falkirk remain above Hearts in the table after a stalemate at Tynecastle.
Aberdeen 1 St Mirren 1
Aberdeen were held to a 1-1 draw at home to ten-man St Mirren. Andy Dorman gave St Mirren the perfect start with the opener after just ten minutes. Lee Mair drew Aberdeen level on 29 minutes when he headed home from close-range. St Mirren had to hold on for the point after David Barron was sent off 13 minutes from time for a second bookable offence.
Dundee Utd 2 Motherwell 0
Second-half goals from Danny Swanson and Mark De Vries were enough to give United the win and help them bounce back from last weekend's CIS Cup final defeat to Rangers. After a tight first half Swanson broke the deadlock on 76 minutes less than a minute after coming off the bench. The January signing from Berwick Rangers beat a couple of Motherwell challenges before slotting the ball past Graeme Smith. The home side made the game safe a minute from time when De Vries raced clear and rounded Smith before stroking the ball into the empty net.
Hearts 0 Falkirk 0
Falkirk remain in pole position to finish in sixth spot after a goalless draw with Hearts. The visitors defended superbly to keep out Hearts who missed the chance to close the gap on Falkirk. Kenny Milne wasted the best chance of the game for Falkirk when he failed to hit the target.
Kilmarnock 4 Inverness CT 1
Kilmarnock came from a goal down to record an impressive victory over Inverness. Inverness went in front on 14 minutes when Ian Black converted from the penalty spot after Frazer Wright had fouled Ross Tokely. Wright made amends for the foul for the penalty when he equalised on 38 minutes. Craig Bryson turned the game in Killie's favour with two quick-fire second-half (50, 56) strikes and Iain Flannigan made it 4-1 on 64 minutes.
Rangers 2 Hibernian 1
Rangers piled the pressure on Celtic by moving six points clear of their Old Firm rivals with victory over Hibs at Ibrox. Jean-Claude Darcheville broke the deadlock five minutes before the break after being set-up by Sasa Papac. Nacho Novo added a second for the home side 11 minutes from time. Dean Shiels set up a frantic finale with a goal for Hibs in the final minute, but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Kilmarnock picked up a morale-boosting win with a 4-1 success over Inverness and St Mirren earned a draw at Aberdeen.
Falkirk remain above Hearts in the table after a stalemate at Tynecastle.
Aberdeen 1 St Mirren 1
Aberdeen were held to a 1-1 draw at home to ten-man St Mirren. Andy Dorman gave St Mirren the perfect start with the opener after just ten minutes. Lee Mair drew Aberdeen level on 29 minutes when he headed home from close-range. St Mirren had to hold on for the point after David Barron was sent off 13 minutes from time for a second bookable offence.
Dundee Utd 2 Motherwell 0
Second-half goals from Danny Swanson and Mark De Vries were enough to give United the win and help them bounce back from last weekend's CIS Cup final defeat to Rangers. After a tight first half Swanson broke the deadlock on 76 minutes less than a minute after coming off the bench. The January signing from Berwick Rangers beat a couple of Motherwell challenges before slotting the ball past Graeme Smith. The home side made the game safe a minute from time when De Vries raced clear and rounded Smith before stroking the ball into the empty net.
Hearts 0 Falkirk 0
Falkirk remain in pole position to finish in sixth spot after a goalless draw with Hearts. The visitors defended superbly to keep out Hearts who missed the chance to close the gap on Falkirk. Kenny Milne wasted the best chance of the game for Falkirk when he failed to hit the target.
Kilmarnock 4 Inverness CT 1
Kilmarnock came from a goal down to record an impressive victory over Inverness. Inverness went in front on 14 minutes when Ian Black converted from the penalty spot after Frazer Wright had fouled Ross Tokely. Wright made amends for the foul for the penalty when he equalised on 38 minutes. Craig Bryson turned the game in Killie's favour with two quick-fire second-half (50, 56) strikes and Iain Flannigan made it 4-1 on 64 minutes.
Rangers 2 Hibernian 1
Rangers piled the pressure on Celtic by moving six points clear of their Old Firm rivals with victory over Hibs at Ibrox. Jean-Claude Darcheville broke the deadlock five minutes before the break after being set-up by Sasa Papac. Nacho Novo added a second for the home side 11 minutes from time. Dean Shiels set up a frantic finale with a goal for Hibs in the final minute, but it was too little too late for the visitors.
