Scottish Premiership: Aberdeen drop a late point while Dundee United and Motherwell win

Aberdeen were unable to take advantage of Celtic's slip at Hamilton on Friday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by St Johnstone at Pittodrie.

The Dons looked likely to close the gap on the leaders to four points thanks to a goal from Simon Church (35), but were pegged back two minutes from time when Liam Craig netted a penalty.

Kenny McLean should have made more of an opportunity in the early stages from a Church cut-back, but the striker's shot lacked power and Alan Mannus saved easily.

St Johnstone passed up three chances to take the lead as the half wore on with Graham Cummins sending a header wide, before Steven MacLean mis-hit a shot inside the box which spun into the 'keeper's arms.

Danny Swanson then crashed the ball over the bar as Aberdeen continued to ride their luck.

But 10 minutes before the break, Church pounced to knock the loose ball over the line after Mannus produced an excellent save to block a header from Ash Taylor at a corner.

St Johnstone almost levelled within two minutes as Scott Brown fired a snap-shot inside the penalty area inches wide of the post.

Church was denied a second goal in the early stages of the second half when his close-range flick was stopped on the line by Mannus.

Craig then drew a challenge from Ryan Jack inside the box and was sent tumbling before the Saints substitute stepped up to roll the penalty past Scott Brown, with the Dons stopper diving in the opposite direction.

At the other end of the table Dundee United earned a vital 3-0 away victory against Ross County to boost their fight against relegation.

United made a terrific start at Victoria Park when skipper Paul Paton connected with a Scott Fraser corner and powered his header into the bottom corner beyond Scott Fox with 10 minutes on the clock.

The visitors were rarely troubled but had to wait until 71 minutes to gain some breathing space when Ryan Dow cut the ball across the six-yard box for Billy Mckay to divert the ball home.

Ross County almost hit back 90 seconds later when Paul Quinn looped a shot on to the bar and over.

But United secured victory on 76 minutes when Scott Fox parried a header from Coll Donaldson, but Ryan Dow followed up to net with a close-range header.

United's victory means they are now eight points adrift of Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off position, having played one game less, after the Ayrshire side lost 1-0 to Hearts.

Former Hearts 'keeper Jamie MacDonald saved two penalties at Tynecastle but the home side did enough to secure victory.

Killie had the first chance of the match in the opening stages when the ball broke to Craig Slater inside the penalty area, but he shot wide from around 10 yards.

Hearts responded quickly and were awarded their first penalty when Stuart Findlay fouled Prince Buaben after seven minutes.

MacDonald saved the spot-kick from Jamie Walker, but the Hearts forward followed up to net the rebound.

Although the lead was slender, Hearts had a golden opportunity to secure the victory nine minutes from time when Josh Magennis was adjudged to have used his hand to block an Igor Rossi header inside the box.

Once again MacDonald stooped low to save the spot-kick, this time from Arnaud Dauda, and the stopper pushed the ball wide to deny Hearts a second chance.

Dundee striker Kane Hemmings scored his 20th goal of the season to earn a 1-1 draw with Inverness CT at Dens Park.

The visitors opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Ross Draper beat the offside trap to latch on to a Greg Tansey pass and round Dundee 'keeper Scott Bain before slotting the ball home.

There was controversy after 26 minutes. Inverness full-back Carl Tremarco was lucky to stay on the pitch after challenging Greg Stewart from behind, and then wrestled the Dundee forward to the ground where he appeared to lash out at him.

But referee Andrew Dallas decided only to book Tremarco while also producing a yellow card to Stewart for his part in the flare-up.

Dundee had a chance to level after 48 minutes as Stewart met Gary Harkins' pass inside the box but could only slip his shot wide, and two minutes later Hemmings beat two Inverness defenders only to fire his shot right at Owain Fon Williams.

The home side went close again when Stewart released Rory Loy whose low shot was saved by the legs of Fon Williams.

Just when the points looked like going to the Highlands, Hemmings popped up to stab home Harkins' headed knock-down from Stewart's inswinging corner for the equaliser.

Louis Moult scored a brace and Marvin Johnson the other as Motherwell beat Partick 3-1 at Fir Park to ease their relegation worries.

Motherwell had the ball in the net after half-an-hour when Scott McDonald followed up to square a pass to Moult after Tomas Cerny spilled a shot from Johnson, but the visitors were denied by the offside flag.

Louis Laing then ran through the Thistle defence only to finish with a tame shot at Cerny as Motherwell upped the tempo.

And they were rewarded for a period of pressure when Keith Lasley was brought down by Aidan Nesbitt in the box and Moult (37) calmly converted the penalty.

Motherwell doubled their lead seven minutes after the break when McDonald played a superb reverse pass to Moult and he picked his spot from inside the box.

Johnson (69) secured the points when he stepped on to a chip from Stephen Pearson and cut inside from the right flank to dispatch his shot.

Thistle pulled back a consolation on 76 minutes when Connor Ripley was beaten from long-range with a shot from Callum Booth.