Scottish Premiership: Bad day for Aberdeen and Hearts

Aberdeen and Hearts missed the chance to close the gap on second-placed Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, with both sides failing in their efforts to beat Ross County and Partick Thistle respectively.

While the Dons were beaten 2-1 in Dingwall, Hearts could only draw 1-1 at home to Thistle. Celtic beat Dundee 2-1 at Parkhead to restore their 11-point lead over Rangers at the top of the table.

Ross County's victory over third-placed Aberdeen was only their second at home this season and came courtesy of Ryan Dow's 88th-minute winner.

From Alex Schalk's cross, Andrew Davies glanced the ball in the direction of Dow who also used his head to snatch three late points.

The goal came just six minutes after the hosts were reduced to 10 men, when Kenny van der Weg was shown a red card for a clumsy challenge on lively winger Hayes.

Both keepers, Joe Lewis for the visitors and Scott Fox for County, made a number of important saves.

After Fox had denied Kenny McLean, along with a well struck free-kick from Hayes, the hosts took the lead against the run of play in the 25th minute when Liam Boyce finished off Michael Gardyne's cross from close range.

Fox pulled off another stop from McLean while, at the other end, Lewis pushed away Craig Curran's glancing header on the stroke of half-time.

The Dons finally grabbed the equaliser they deserved, as Niall McGinn levelled matters from Shay Logan's assist on 68.

But the high-flyers were unable to push on for a winner as back came County and, after Lewis had saved well from Schalk and van der Weg had been sent off, Dow was in the right place to snatch three points.

Meanwhile, at Tynecastle, Hearts were held at home by bottom-of-the-table Partick Thistle who had chances to win it themselves in the second half.

The hosts took a well-deserved lead on 17 when Bjorn Johnson headed home Liam Smith's cross from 12 yards.

Defender Igor Rossi almost added a second when he headed against the bar, before Thistle levelled matters just two minutes after the break as Sean Welsh nodded home a Ryan Edwards cross.

And while Hearts were left to ponder why they had failed to capitalise on their dominant first half display, it was now Partick who looked the better side.

Ade Azeez was denied by home keeper Jack Hamilton, Ryan Edwards fired inches wide and Callum Booth struck the bar.

Hamilton also saved well twice from Chris Erskine, while Liam Lindsay came close with a header.

Despite the point, Thistle remain at the base of the Scottish Premiership standings.

This was because Inverness came from behind to draw 1-1 with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

During a goalless first half, Carl Tremarco volleyed straight at Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald while Caley Thistle's Josh Meekings cleared off his own line to deny Nathan Tyson.

Substitute Alex Fisher missed a great opportunity for the visitors, before Souleymane Coulibaly broke the deadlock with a fine individual goal on 73 when he netted from a tight angle.

But six minutes from time Inverness were level as Gary Warren headed home Greg Tansey's free-kick.

And the game at McDiarmid Park also ended in a 1-1 draw with Chris Kane's equaliser earning St Johnstone a point against Motherwell.

Brian Easton and Murray Davidson went close for Saints early on before Motherwell took the lead courtesy of a 12th minute own goal by keeper Zander Clark who made a complete mess of Richard Tait's cross.

Steven MacLean nearly headed the hosts level on the stroke of half-time, only for Craig Samson to save at the near post while the keeper did well to deny Davidson.

The hosts finally drew level just after the hour mark when Blair Alston's cross was headed down by MacLean for Kane whose initial shot was blocked by Sampson - only for the ball to rebound off the striker and into the net.

David Wotherspoon came close to snatching a winner for Saints late on but they were unable to claim a fourth home win of the campaign.

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