Newz Forum: SOCCER: Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier results 02/04/05

Hearts put the Bank of Scotland Premier League championship race back in the grateful hands of Rangers after snatching a shock 2-0 victory over Celtic at Parkhead.

With one Old Firm game left to go at Ibrox after the split, Alex McLeish's men will have the unexpected opportunity go a point clear at the top with a win at Motherwell on Sunday. Lee Miller headed Hearts into an early lead but it was former Celtic stalwart Mark Burchill who made sure of the points with the Jambos' second.


A last-minute header from Gary Smith boosted 10-man Hibernian's hopes of clinching a UEFA Cup place as they beat Dundee United 3-2 in a pulsating clash at Easter Road. Dean Shiels and then Garry O'Connor had twice given Tony Mowbray's young side the lead but Jim McIntyre and then Jason Scotland equalised for the Tannadice outfit before Smith`s last-gasp winner. In a dress rehearsal for next Saturday's Tennents Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, Hibs captain Ian Murray was sent off for foul and abusive language with seven minutes remaining.


Noel Whelan's third goal in as many games gave Aberdeen a valuable three points and kept the heat on Hibernian in the race for the third after the Dons triumphed 1-0 at Inverness. Aberdeen were workmanlike at best throughout the match, but their performance showed the kind of mettle which has transformed them from regular relegation candidates to UEFA Cup hopefuls in the space on only eight months.


Livingston and Dunfermline had to settle for a 1-1 draw after an amazing end to their match at Almondvale. In the 76th minute, with a hard-fought match heading for a draw, Livingston's new signing Hassan Kachloul replaced Colin McMenamin and two minutes later scored with his first touch of the ball, curling a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner of the net. However, barely a minute later, as the home side still celebrated, Pars substitute Noel Hunt, on earlier for Jesper Christiansen, drove home a 16-yard shot to grab a well-deserved point.


A Steve Lovell penalty secured a 1-0 win for Dundee against Kilmarnock at Dens Park. Chances were few and far between but Lovell made no mistake from the spot on 62 minutes after Neil Barrett was hauled down by David Lilley.

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