Rangers marked their 50th game of the season with a 2-1 win over Hibernian thanks to goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Nacho Novo.

Hibs - the only Scottish club to win at Ibrox this season - put up a decent fight but the Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders returned to winning ways with a crucial victory, despite a late strike from Dean Shiels.

Now six points clear at the summit, the pressure is on Celtic ahead of Sunday's clash with Gretna before both teams meet in the second Old Firm derby of the campaign next weekend.

Falkirk frustrated Hearts in a 0-0 draw at Tynecastle to maintain sixth place in the table.

Only two slack passes in the opening stages allowed Hearts any chances and the Falkirk defence atoned before the visitors created several first-half chances of their own.

Hearts enjoyed more territory and possession in the second period but had no cutting edge as the Bairns comfortably kept their three-point advantage over the Jambos.

Kilmarnock produced a stunning comeback to beat Inverness 4-1 and secure their third consecutive home league victory.

Ian Black put the visitors ahead with a penalty but Frazer Wright equalised and Craig Bryson fired his side ahead with a terrific effort six minutes into the second half.

Bryson's shot was deflected off Phil McGuire past Michael Fraser five minutes later before Iain Flannigan added a fourth after 64 minutes.

St Mirren survived the sending-off of David Barron to secure a spirited 1-1 draw at Pittodrie and dent Aberdeen's hopes of finishing in the top six.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when Andy Dorman confidently flicked the ball over Lee Mair prior to coolly firing a volley past Derek Soutar in the Aberdeen goal.

The Dons equaliser came when Mair headed in from Barry Nicholson's corner just before the half-hour mark and although St Mirren were reduced to 10 men with 13 minutes after Barron received two cautions in quick succession, Aberdeen never looked like finding a winning goal.

In the early kick-off, substitute Danny Swanson scored after less than a minute on the pitch as Dundee United bounced back from their CIS Cup final defeat by Rangers with a 2-0 victory over Motherwell.

Swanson broke the deadlock after being introduced 15 minutes from time and team-mate Mark de Vries then slotted home a calm finish with two minutes remaining to secure a crucial victory in the race for Europe.

SportingLife / Eurosport