SPL round-up

Wins for Rangers, Inverness, Hearts and Kilmarnock

By Ashley Marshall   Last updated: 9th August 2008

SPL round-up

Winner - Andrius Velicka's goal saw Rangers to victory at Falkirk.

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Rangers put their midweek European loss behind them, Hearts held on for a nail-biting victory against Motherwell and Kilmarnock's Jamie Hamill came off the bench to give the Ayrshire men a win at home to Hibs.

Rangers took all three points away at Falkirk, with Andrius Velicka opening his account for the Glasgow giants after the hosts had missed a penalty.

Inverness defeated rivals Aberdeen for the first time in the club's history with a 2-0 win away from home.

Hearts held on for a nervous 3-2 victory at home to battling Motherwell, after Saulius Mikoliunas gave the hosts an 82nd minute-lead.

And Kilmarnock got their 2008 campaign off on the right foot with a tense 1-0 win against Hibernian.

href="http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,19762,11065_3002917,00.html">Falkirk 0 Rangers 1

In the day's early kick off, Rangers put their European disappointment behind them with a 1-0 victory over Falkirk.

Andrius Velicka scored in the 64th minute to give Rangers a winning domestic start after they had been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Lithuanian side FBK Kaunas on Tuesday.

Kris Boyd squandered a series of fine chances for the Glasgow giants and Falkirk's Michael Higdon saw his 49th minute penalty saved by Rangers' keeper Allan McGregor after Steven Whittaker brought down Kevin McBride from behind.

Rangers scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 64th minute when Boyd flicked on a long ball to Kyle Lafferty who crossed from the right for Velicka to score from close range.

href="http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,19762,11065_3002916,00.html">Aberdeen 0 Inverness 2

Inverness Caledonian Thistle secured their first ever win over nearest SPL neighbours Aberdeen with a hard-fought 2-0 victory.

The visitors took a surprise lead after 27 minutes, with new boy Andrew Barrowman opening his account after joining on a free transfer from Ross County in July.

The goal came against the run of play after Mark Kerr was caught in possession by Russell Duncan in the middle of the park.

Inverness worked the ball out to Ross Tokely on the right and his driven cross along the face of the goal gave Barrowman the easiest of finishes.

Jimmy Calderwood's Aberdeen had a chance to get back level after Jeffrey De Visscher was tripped by Don Cowie on the edge of the area but Charlie Mulgrew blasted into the Caley wall.

Inverness lost to Aberdeen all four times they met last season, including a 4-1 defeat in the CIS Insurance Cup and a heart-breaking 4-3 loss in March, but

McBain put the result beyond doubt in the 90th minute.

href="http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,19762,11065_3002918,00.html">Hearts 3 Motherwell 2

Saulius Mikoliunas' goal eight minutes from time gave Hearts all three points at home to Motherwell after David Clarkson had twice pulled the visitors level.

Michael Stewart put the hosts ahead after 25 minutes at Tynecastle, his right-footed daisy-cutter from 18 yards giving keeper Graeme Smith no chance.

Motherwell hit back eight minutes later, Stephen Hughes skipping past a defender and flashing a shot across the face of the goal and David Clarkson tapping the ball home from a yard out.

Hearts regained the lead five minutes before the break, Audrius Ksanavicius putting the home side back in front after Motherwell were again exposed through the middle of their defence.

Clarkson drew Motherwell level in the 81st minute when his long-range strike gave Stevie Banks no chance.

But Mikoliunas stole all three points for Hearts less than two minutes later, giving Csaba Laszlo the best possible start to his SPL career.

href="http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,19762,11065_3002919,00.html">Kilmarnock 1 Hibernian 0

Substitute Jamie Hamill's goal ten minutes from time saw Kilmarnock to a 1-0 victory at home to Hibernian.

Hamill found the back of the net with his first touch of the ball after coming off the bench to secure all three points for the Ayrshire men.

The game had swung from end to end with plenty of crunching tackles to keep the crowd animated but Killie were dealt a blow when stopper Ryan O'Leary had to be replaced following a clash with Colin Nish.

Hibs striker Nish missed a great chance to give the Easter Road side a first-half lead against his former club, but he failed to connect properly and Killie keeper Alan Combe saved the shot with some ease.

At the other end, Kilmarnock's Frazer Wright had seen a header cleared off the line.

Celtic will host St Mirren tomorrow lunchtime (12.30pm), with Hamilton and Dundee United getting their seasons underway on Monday night.

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