A fine brace from Nacho Novo ensured Rangers moved within a point of SPL leaders Celtic as Walter Smith's side ran out 3-1 winners over Dundee United at Ibrox on Saturday.

Novo struck twice in the first half, and while United reduced the deficit through Mark De Vries, Jean Claude Darcheville sealed the vital success in injury-time to keep Gers' hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive.

Chris Porter's 17th goal of the season put Motherwell on the verge of European football for the first time in 13 years after they beat Aberdeen 2-1.

Motherwell took control after a slow start to the game and substitute Darren Smith scrambled them into a deserved lead just after the hour mark.

Aberdeen soon levelled out of the blue through Sone Aluko but Porter finished off a slick move nine minutes from time to tighten Motherwell's grip on third place.

Carl Finnigan's emphatic second-half finish helped Falkirk to a 2-1 win over Inverness as they leapfrogged Hearts into seventh place.

Michael Higdon's ninth goal of the season had given Falkirk the lead in the first half.

Inverness grabbed a late goal through Barry Wilson's penalty.

Kilmarnock defender Grant Murray condemned Hearts to successive defeats after netting a second-half header at Tynecastle to help his side to a 2-0 victory.

The former Hearts player rose high in a congested box to bullet David Fernandez's corner beyond Steve Banks before substitute Paul di Giacomo added a second in the 83rd minute with a volley from close range.

Gretna bounced back from their six-goal mauling at Inverness by holding their own in a 0-0 draw with St Mirren at Love Street.

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