Saturday 23 January 2016 18:35, UK
Dundee United kept alive their slim hopes of survival with a stuning 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Tannadice.
Blair Spittal struck twice and further first-half goals from Mark Durnan and John Rankin put Mixu Paatelainen's side en route to only their third league win of the campaign before Sean Dillon (78) added a fifth.
Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis (82) grabbed a late consolation for Killie who are now 'just' 11 points ahead of their rivals at the foot of the Scottish Premiership table.
Spittal grabbed his third goal in four matches in the eighth minute, firing home after good work by Simon Murray, and Durnan headed them 2-0 ahead with 32 minutes on the clock.
Seven minutes later Spittal's speculative cross found the back of Jamie McDonald's net and Rankin completed the first-half scoring with a fine drive on the stroke of half time.
United kept up the pace after the break but had to wait until 12 minutes from time before making their pressure tell when Dillon fired home from close range.
Four minutes later Magennis headed in for the visitors but the points had long been secured, lifting any pressure on under-fire boss Paatelainen.
At Fir Park, goals from Jackson Irvine and Brian Graham earned Ross County a 2-1 victory over Motherwell for whom former Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson struck late on.
Irvine opened the scoring with a right-foot shot in the 20th minute and County survived a period of home pressure to make it 2-0 when Graham fired into the top of the net with 21 minutes remaining.
Mark McGhee's Well continued to press and were rewarded for their pressure when Pearson scored from close range following a corner three minutes from time.
James McFadden, back at the home side for the second time in his career, almost secured a share of the spoils but his goalbound shot was kept out by County keeper Scott Fox.
In the day's other game, the Thistle's of Inverness and Partick drew 0-0 at the Caledoinian Stadium.
