Leaders Rangers turned on the power to crush Hearts 4-0 at Tynecastle.

'Gers seemed to have tricky test at Tynecastle with Celtic just four points behind.

But once Jean-Claude Darcheville opened the scoring on 25 minutes with a low angled drive after being put through by Barry Ferguson's neat flick, there was only going to be one winner.

Darcheville added a second just before the interval when he reacted quickest in the six-yard box after Christian Dailly headed a far-post corner back across goal.

Darcheville was taken off at half-time but the Jambos got no respite as his replacement Nacho Novo made it 3-0 eight minutes after the break.

And the Spaniard made it four 20 minutes from time with a cheeky back-heel as the home side crumbled.

Celtic kept pace with their Glasgow rivals after a more hard-working 2-1 win over Inverness.

Scott McDonald scored with the last kick of the first half to give Celtic a precious lead Georgios Samaras and Aiden McGeady had efforts saved by Michael Fraser during a match which Celtic dominated despite not being at their best.

But with the last action of the first half, Shunsuke Nakamura curled in a free-kick from wide on the right and McDonald pounced to knock the ball over the line from close range.

Samaras made up for his earlier misses by grabbing the Bhoys' second on the hour mark with a towering header.

But the tension was turned up at Parkhead when Marius Niculae burst through the middle and slotted coolly past keeper Artur Boruc 15 minutes from time.

Third-placed Motherwell slipped 16 points behind the Old Firm after being held 1-1 at lowly Aberdeen.

Zander Diamond connected with a perfectly delivered corner from Jeffrey de Visscher in the 28th minute to give Dons a shock lead and provide the sole highlight of a pretty grim opening period.

But 'Well grabbed a valuable point when Darren Smith pounced after Chris Porter's corner was not properly cleared seven minutes from time.

Hibernian rekindled European hopes with a 2-0 victory at Falkirk.

Hibs opened the scoring after just 12 minutes when Dean Shiels fed Colin Nish on the right and his tempting cross was missed by Steven Fletcher in the six-yard box, only for the luckless Jack Ross to knock the ball into his own net.

John Rankin sealed the points with a clinching second seven minutes into the second half.

Dundee United stay fourth despite dropping points in a 1-1 home draw with St Mirren.

Dundee United midfielder Willo Flood came closest to breaking the first-half deadlock.

Flood shot against the bar from 25 yards before the ball eventually bounced to safety.

But the Terrors eventually took the lead through Sean Dillon 20 minutes from time but Andy Dorman snatched a point for the Buddies with an 88th minute equaliser.

Bottom club Gretna revitalised their season to thrash second bottom Kilmarnock 4-2.

Gretna stormed into a three-goal lead by half-time even though in-form striker Kenny Deuchar had joined Real Salt Lake earlier in the day.

But the Fir Park crowd were stunned as Nicky Deverdics, Rhys Meynell and Greg Barr scored for Gretna, giving them every chance of closing the gap on Kilmarnock to nine points.

Mickael Buscher made it four on the hour mark and the only consolation for Killie was a lare tally that produced goals for Simon Ford and William Gibson.

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