Monday 28 November 2016 19:58, UK
Bjorn Johnsen scored twice as Hearts cruised to a 3-0 victory over Motherwell at Tynecastle.
The striker was on target in each half, while Jamie Walker netted the third in what was largely a one-sided encounter in the Scottish capital.
The hosts took the lead in the 31st minute when Arnaud Djoum laid the ball to Johnsen who rounded 'keeper Craig Samson before slipping the ball into the back of the net.
Not long after, the American-born Norwegian thought he had added a second goal but his header was ruled offside.
And as the Edinburgh side continued to dominate, Djoum curled a 44th minute effort over the bar. Igor Rossi then forced a save out of Samson while Djoum blasted the rebound over.
Four minutes into the second half Johnsen made it 2-0, glancing home a header from Robbie Muirhead's corner.
As the visitors tried to reduce the deficit, Craig Clay had a header cleared off the line by Faycal Rherras. However, with 66 minutes played, Walker collected Don Cowie's assist before adding a third on the break.
Conor Sammon almost netted another, only to be denied by keeper Samson's outstretched hand, while the result ended a run of four games without a win for Hearts.
Meanwhile, at Dens Park, bottom of the table Dundee beat Inverness 2-1, to move five spots up the standings.
Craig Wighton and Kostadin Gadzhalov were on target for the Dark Blues, while Carl Tremarco pulled a goal back for the visitors who had Lewis Horner sent off late in the game.
As Inverness threatened early on, defender Gary Warren was just too high with a looping header. At the other end, Marcus Haber also went close with a header before the hosts took the lead on 25 minutes.
From Darren O'Dea's assist, Wighton curled his low shot into the far corner of the net and the teenager almost added a second goal a few minutes later with a shot that flew inches wide of the left post.
After the break, Paul McGowan went close as Dundee continued to dominate before the second goal duly arrived on the hour mark as Gadzhalov headed home Tom Hateley's corner.
With nine minutes remaining, the visitors halved the deficit thanks to Tremarco's looping header from Horner's assist.
The latter was then shown a straight red card with 93 minutes on the clock and, when the final whistle sounded, the bottom seven teams were separated by just two points.
And there was acute disappointment for Ross County who outplayed Hamilton at Dingwall but could only draw 1-1.
Liam Boyce, who had threatened on more than one occasion during the early stages of the contest, gave County a lead they thoroughly deserved.
Six minutes from half-time, Michael Gardyne's cross to the far post was met by Boyce who found space to head home from 10 yards.
Hamilton reached the break a goal behind, but it would have been worse for the visitors had keeper Gary Woods not saved well from Andrew Davies and Gardyne.
However, Hamilton levelled matters against the run of play on 77, thanks to a superb curling free-kick from Ali Crawford.
The Accies then came close to snatching what would have been an undeserved three points, two minutes from time, when Crawford's long range effort flew inches over the bar.
Earlier in the day, Rangers came from behind to beat Partick Thistle 2-1 at Firhill.
In an end-to-end contest, Kris Doohlan broke the deadlock 15 minutes from time - lashing home from close range.
Two minutes later Thistle almost added a second, when a long range Ryan Edwards volley clipped the top of the bar.
But back came the visitors with a brace of goals from substitute Joe Dodoo. Both came courtesy of Kenny Miller whose assists proved decisive on a bright, crisp day in Glasgow.
His first set up Dodoo to volley home on 80, while the second deep into injury time allowed the 21-year-old Englishman to race into the box and score from a testing angle. The win takes Rangers second in the table.
