Scotland round-up: No problems for leaders

Celtic FC remain a point clear of Rangers FC at the top of the Scottish Premier League after both sides won their weekend fixtures.

Late goals enough
Rangers, held to a draw by Aberdeen FC last week but still unbeaten all season in the league, returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 3-0 victory at home to third-place Dunfermline Athletic FC. It took Rangers until the 58th minute to take the lead when Neil McCann shot in from 15 metres. Sean Kilgannon was then sent off for Dunfermline and in the last ten minute Rangers clinched the game with goals from Michael Mols and Shota Arveladze to keep up their 100 per cent home record and move 16 points ahead of their visitors.

Larsson up to 18
However, Celtic returned to the summit the next day as a Henrik Larsson double helped them to a 2-0 win at Livingston FC. The former Swedish international striker opened the scoring with a sixth-minute penalty and then claimed his 18th league goal this season seven minutes from the end, to boost Celtic ahead of their UEFA Cup third round first-leg tie at home to RC Celta de Vigo on Thursday, for which Stilian Petrov is expected to be fit despite suffering a facial injury that required 15 stitches.

Eight men lose
Bottom-placed Motherwell FC had an unhappy Saturday at Hibernian FC as they had three men sent off and lost 3-1. Steven Ferguson had put the visitors ahead on 47 minutes but Daniel Sengewald was dismissed and Mixu Paatelainen and Tam McManus both struck to put Hibernian ahead. Stephen Pearson then followed Sengewald off for fouling Ian Murry and Motherwell’s David Partridge and Hibernians' Grant Brebner then received red cards for brawling, all two minutes from time. John O'Neil then converted a penalty to confirm the home win.

Dundee derby delight
Elswehere on Saturday, Dundee FC nearly let a 3-0 lead slip against city rivals Dundee United FC but held on to win 3-2, while Heart of Midlothian FC closed the gap to Dunfermline in third place with a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock FC, Mark de Vries returning from injury to score the goal, and Aberdeen were unable to keep up their form of last week, losing 2-1 at Partick Thistle FC.