Saturday 15 October 2016 18:02, UK
Aberdeen continued their fine start to the Scottish Premiership season with an easy 4-0 win over 10-man Ross County at Pittodrie.
The Dons are Celtic's closest challengers at the top of the table and they took full advantage of the Staggies having Tim Chow dismissed for a two-footed tackle soon after going behind.
Adam Rooney had already had a goal chalked off for a marginal offside call by the time Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was able to celebrate their 19th minute opener.
The goal came from Jonny Hayes, who cut inside a County defender and lashed a left-footed shot past Scott Fox.
Hayes was the victim of Chow's ill-timed challenge a minute later, with the former Wigan midfielder quickly shown a red card by Craig Thomson.
Fox denied Rooney a second soon after but Aberdeen doubled their lead on 31 minutes when Shay Logan reacted quickest to score after Graham Shinnie's shot had been saved.
Hayes came close to his second of the game only for Fox to make another fine save, but County had a chance of their own just before the break when Michael Gardyne sprinted clear but couldn't beat Joe Lewis.
The pressure ramped up after half-time with Fox continuing his fine display for the visitors until he was beaten for a third time by Niall McGinn with 22 minutes remaining.
Fox was beaten again on 78 by a shot from Jayden Stockley as ruthless Aberdeen pressed home their advantage and eased to three points in front of a crowd of just over 10,000.
Callum Paterson scored for the second successive game as third-placed Hearts edged luckless Dundee 2-0 at Tynecastle.
Paterson had fired home a stunning goal in the 3-1 win over Motherwell before the international break and his header helped the home side to another three points.
Both sides created good chances in the opening 45 minutes with Paterson firing into the side-netting and Tony Watt lashing a shot over the bar for Hearts and Tom Hateley hitting the bar for Dundee - a theme that would continue.
Hateley was cursing his luck early in the second period as well when his shot was deflected on to the post and Dundee were denied by the goalframe for a third time when Kostadin Gadzahlov headed against the bar from close range.
The tally reached four when Yordi Teijsse's low shot hit the post, while Jamie Walker had an effort cleared off the line as Hearts tried to get back into the game.
It would be the home side celebrating with 22 minutes remaining as Robbie Muirhead swung over a cross and Paterson rose highest to head past Scott Bain.
With Dundee pressing for an equaliser, Hearts picked them off to score a second in the 89th minute as Walker's cross was converted by substitute Bjorn Johnsen.
Partick Thistle passed Dundee to move off the bottom of the table but had to settle for a point from a 2-2 draw with Hamilton at Firhill.
Hamilton took the lead on 14 minutes when Massimo Donati headed home an Ali Crawford corner to spark a first half that was full of good chances.
Thistle levelled the scores on 27 through Ryan Edwards, who made the most of a deflected Chris Erskine cross that landed at his feet.
The home side claimed the lead two minutes before the break when Abdul Osman's ball was nodded home at the far post by Liam Lindsay.
But Thistle were denied only a second victory of the season when Eamonn Brophy's shot found the corner of the net to level the scores.
Scott Boyd came off the bench to score a late goal and give Kilmarnock a 1-0 win at St Johnstone, ending a two-month wait to celebrate three league points.
The defender was thrown into the action early in the first half and ensured his side came out on top of a dour match when he prodded home from five yards with 14 minutes remaining.
Boyd came on when Jonathan Burns suffered an apparent broken nose after 15 minutes and his first action was to clear just as Steven Anderson was readying himself to put Saints in front.
He might have counted himself fortunate not to give away a penalty as well on an eventful afternoon after appearing to take out Anderson in the box - referee Steven MacLean shocked home fans by waving play on.
Chances were few and far between, although Killie midfielder Rory McKenzie struck a 25-yard shot which flew just past the post.
But Boyd turned out to be their hero as he reacted quickly to score the only goal of the game after the hosts failed to deal with a corner from Jordan Jones.
