Sunday 1 May 2016 22:21, UK
Aberdeen saw their Scottish Premiership title hopes all-but ended by Celtic's 3-1 victory at Hearts on Saturday lunchtime but they still gave their supporters plenty to cheer about at Pittodrie with a 4-1 win over Motherwell.
Goals from Kenny McLean, Niall McGinn, Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes moved the second-placed Dons nine points behind Celtic with three games remaining but their vastly-inferior goal difference means the trophy will be staying at Parkhead.
McLean opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the sixth minute after Hayes had been fouled by Louis Laing following a great run down the left.
McGinn made it 2-0 in the 26th minute, guiding the ball into the corner of the net from Shay Logan's low right-wing centre.
Rooney, who had replaced the injured Simon Church shortly before the interval, added the third goal in the 54th minute when he bundled the ball home from close range after Andrew Considine had headed McGinn's free-kick against the crossbar.
Chris Cadden was credited with pulling a goal back for Motherwell in the 64th minute but it could well go down as an Ash Taylor own goal as the midfielder had the final touch as he headed the ball past debutant goalkeeper Adam Collin from point-blank range.
Louis Moult then went close for Well but Hayes ended any hopes of a comeback with 12 minutes remaining as he broke clear for a superb solo goal.
The visitors finished the match with 10 men after Keith Lasley was red-carded with three minutes left for a late tackle on McLean which sparked a furious bust-up.
At the lower end of the table, Kilmarnock gave themselves a chance of avoiding the relegation play-off with a 4-0 victory over Hamilton at New Douglas Park.
The win moved Killie within four points of the 10th-placed Accies and left Dundee United 11 points adrift at the bottom of the table ahead of Monday's local derby with Dundee.
Greg Kiltie fired the visitors ahead in the 11th minute with an angled drive from Rory McKenzie's cut-back, but there were strong appeals from the home defence that the ball had gone out of play.
Kiltie added a second goal in the 32nd minute from Kris Boyd's reverse pass, although there were protests from the Hamilton fans this time that he was offside.
Boyd made it 3-0 with a 58th-minute spot-kick after Lucas Tagliapietra had handled in the area, with Josh Magennis sealing the win in the 77th minute through his 13th goal of the season as he tapped in Kiltie's cross from a yard out.
Inverness CT moved above Dundee into seventh place in the table by defeating Partick Thistle 4-1 at Firhill.
Carl Tremarco put Caley ahead in the 14th minute when he burst through and ran 40 yards before firing past Ryan Scully in the home goal.
Steven Lawless and Sean Welsh had chances for the hosts either side of that goal - the latter denied by a superb save from Owain Fon Williams - but the visitors were firmly in control just 30 seconds after half-time when Miles Storey was allowed too much space as he made it 2-0 - the impressive Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo making his second assist.
Scully then took centre stage for Partick with several fine saves to keep Inverness at bay but he was beaten again in the 76th minute when the unmarked Josh Meekings guided home Greg Tansey's corner.
Kris Doolan pulled a goal back for the home side in the 83rd minute when he pounced on a loose ball and rounded Fon Williams to score, but Jordan Roberts restored Inverness' three-goal cushion with a fine half-volleyed effort just two minutes later after good work from subs Richie Foran.
Partick were booed off at the end of both halves and are now just six points clear of 11th-placed Kilmarnock.
St Johnstone leapfrogged Motherwell into fourth place in the table thanks to a 1-0 victory over Ross County at Global Energy Stadium.
Steven McLean netted the winner in the 56th minute of a scrappy game when he flicked home Joe Shaughnessy's corner with a downward header from close range.
David Wotherspoon had earlier seen a free-kick tipped over by Ross goalkeeper Scott Fox, while Saints 'keeper Zander Clark did well to keep out a shot from Jonathan Franks to prevent the hosts from equalising.
County skipper Andrew Davies then headed wide late on as St Johnstone held firm to take the three points.
