Saturday 5 December 2015 16:11, UK
Aberdeen beat Ross County 3-1 to move back into second place in the Scottish Premiership, profiting from Hearts' 2-2 draw at Motherwell.
At the bottom, luckless Dundee United went in front against Hamilton Academical but were floored by a late one-two, going down 2-1, while the performance of the day came at Rugby Park where Partick Thistle hit Kilmarnock for five.
At Pittodrie, County's Liam Boyce surged through the middle and found Craig Curran, who slipped the opening goal beyond Dons goalkeeper Danny Ward in the 14th minute.
Most of the home side's threat rested on the shoulders of the ever-willing Niall McGinn, foraging with intent on the flank, and he went close with a decent curling effort.
Aberdeen had won just one of their last eight games but they were level when Adam Rooney pounced in the 51st minute for his 10th of the season, McGinn the provider, and two minutes later they were in front as Jonny Hayes' effort eluded Martin Woods.
Chances came and went at both ends, County giving as good as they got, before man-of-the-match McGinn slid in to wrap it up for the hosts with 10 minutes remaining.
At Fir Park, Louis Moult struck in controversial fashion in the second minute, challenging Hearts 'keeper Neil Alexander for a high ball, which fell for the Motherwell man to knock into the empty net, the whistle Alexander demanded not being forthcoming.
The mood in the visitors' camp improved markedly seven minutes later when Osman Sow fed Juanma, who slipped in the equaliser and Connor Ripley then had to be at his best to thwart Sow and Callum Paterson.
Marvin Johnson struck for Motherwell after a lightning break in the 65th minute, the striker showing fine control to create the opening but Sow levelled four minutes later for Hearts with a rocket from 30 yards.
The performance of the day came at blustery Rugby Park where Partick Thistle ran riot to claim their third away win of the season in some style, running out 5-2 winners over Kilmarnock.
Kris Doolan gave the Jags a seventh-minute lead and doubled the advantage eight minutes later with a free header before Josh Magennis pulled one back on 23 with his seventh of the season, volleying in Conrad Balatoni's cross.
Gary Fraser (52) extended Thistle's advantage after the ball broke kindly in the box and Robbie Muirhead (62) added the fourth with the goal of the game from 25 yards.
If the Killie fans who had braved the inclement weather thought that Mark Connolly's goal on 72 offered hope that was swiftly disabused by Muirhead's second of the game on 75 as Thistle moved above their hosts into ninth.
At Tannadice, there was no sign of new signing Florent Sinama Pongolle for Dundee United, international clearance not having been forthcoming, against a Hamilton side looking for a first win since September.
The excellent Billy McKay's sixth goal of the season - a crisp right-foot finish - gave the home side a lift in the 29th minute. Blair Spittal was then foiled by Michael McGovern and the Accies 'keeper also denied McKay a second.
But United were unable to hold onto their hard-won advantage as Gavin Gunning's headed own goal on 70 and Ziggy Gordon's predatory finish on 79 then gave Accies their first win in seven, lifting them to fifth in the process.
