SPL round-up

Celtic's winning run continued as they saw off Motherwell, St Johnstone are up to fourth place and Dundee United triumphed against Hearts.

Celtic march on; St Johnstone climb; Hearts slide, Killie joy

Celtic's winning run continued as they saw off Motherwell, St Johnstone are up to fourth place and Dundee United triumphed against Hearts at Tynecastle. Celtic's march towards their almost inevitable coronation as Scottish Premier League champions continued with Gary Hooper on target to secure a 1-0 victory over third-placed Motherwell at Celtic Park, moving Neil Lennon's men a staggering 23 points clear of crisis-club Rangers. Murray Davidson and Callum Davidson bagged a quick-fire first-half double, scoring in the 33rd and 35th minutes, as St Johnstone climbed into fourth in the table with a 3-1 home victory over bottom club Dunfermline, who replied through Paul Burns before Lee Croft completed the scoring. Hearts are now down to sixth in the standings following a costly 2-0 home defeat to Dundee United, where Jon Daly's strike four minutes before the interval and Gavin Gunning's late effort saw the visitors elevated to fifth place. Hibernian are now three points clear of their relegation rivals after claiming an impressive 3-1 success at Kilmarnock, where Tom Soares bagged a brace (17 and 66) with Roy O'Donovan netting early in the second period, before Dean Shiels' late consolation. St Mirren and Aberdeen ended their recent goal droughts but neither side could get back to winning ways in a 1-1 draw as Nigel Hasselbaink struck in the 57th minute, but the hosts were pegged back almost immediately as Scott Vernon netted.