A storm-battered Saturday in the Scottish Premiership delivered 15 goals, a Rangers statement win, a five-goal Tannadice thriller and a huge three points for Falkirk and St.Mirren. With Celtic not in action until Sunday, Rangers took full advantage to close the gap at the top, while the relegation picture tightened further.
Dundee United 3-2 Aberdeen
Dundee United edged a rain-soaked, five-goal thriller at Tannadice as Zac Sapsford’s late header secured a Scottish Premiership victory over Aberdeen.
Jim Goodwin’s side led three times in a pulsating, end-to-end contest, with Zidane Iqbal, Dylan Tait and Sapsford on target. Aberdeen twice fought back through Nesta Guinness-Walker and Connor Ronan, but United’s resilience ultimately proved decisive.
United took the lead after 14 minutes when Iqbal’s 25-yard strike took two deflections on its way into the bottom corner. Aberdeen had made the brighter start, though, and they were level when Nesta Guinness-Walker reacted quickest amid a goalmouth scramble to fire home from close range.
The hosts responded almost immediately, with Tait volleying in at the back post from a corner. Yet United could not shake off their opponents, and Aberdeen emerged for the second half with renewed purpose.
Their pressure was rewarded when Ronan arrowed a superb effort into the net from 25 yards to restore parity once again.
United thought they had regained the lead when Sapsford rifled home after Jesse Randall’s excellent cross, only for Daniel Bennie to be controversially ruled offside and interfering with play.
If that decision felt harsh, United soon had their reward. Tait swung a cross in from the right and Sapsford guided a brilliant header beyond the goalkeeper to seal a dramatic three points.
The win extends United’s unbeaten run to five matches, including three victories, and lifts them to fourth in the table. Aberdeen, hampered by injury and illness, slip to ninth after a fifth league defeat in 10 games.
Rangers 4-0 St Johnstone
Rangers closed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to one point with a dominant 4-0 victory over St Johnstone at a rain-lashed Ibrox.
Kevin Kelsy struck twice, while Ryan Naderi and substitute Tochi Chukwuani also scored as Derek McInnes’s side extended their unbeaten run to eight matches and bounced back from last weekend’s draw at Dundee.
Rangers controlled the first half, but wayward finishing and a series of impressive saves from St Johnstone goalkeeper Toby Steward kept the visitors level. That changed shortly before the half-hour mark when Kim Min-Su picked out Ryan Naderi with a superb pass, and the winger unselfishly squared for Kelsy to fire Rangers in front.
The hosts pushed for more before the break, with Min-Su striking the outside of the post from 20 yards and Steward producing an excellent save to deny Kelsy a second. St Johnstone offered little going forward, although Josh Fowler should have done better when he was clean through on Ivor Pandur but hit the side-netting.
Rangers were briefly under pressure after the restart, but Naderi settled any nerves when he tapped home from close range after Steward could only parry Kim’s effort.
Kelsy then made the game safe, stealing in at the back post to turn home Emmanuel Fernandez’s flick-on from a corner.
St Johnstone’s afternoon worsened when substitute Kai Fotheringham was sent off following a VAR review for a studs-up challenge on Nico Raskin. Djeidi Gassama then set up fellow substitute Chukwuani to add a fourth and give the scoreline a more emphatic look.
Falkirk 3-0 Kilmarnock
Jacob Murrell continued his fine form as Falkirk made it two Scottish Premiership wins from two with a 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock in difficult conditions at the Falkirk Stadium.
The striker was involved in the opener, when his header was diverted into the net by Cathal McCarthy, before scoring Falkirk’s second himself with a superb header from Ryan Strain’s corner. George Stanger’s own goal completed the scoring in the second half.
Murrell has now scored three goals in two games, underlining his growing importance to John McGlynn’s side. Stanger had earlier gone close for Kilmarnock at 0-0, but could not get enough on his effort from a corner.
The wind and increasingly heavy rain made for a demanding afternoon for both teams, but Falkirk adapted far better than the visitors and fully deserved the three points.
The victory lifts Falkirk to seventh after 10 matches, just a point outside the top six. Kilmarnock, meanwhile, remain second bottom and a point above Hibernian, who host Celtic on Sunday.
St Mirren 2-1 Dundee
St Mirren ended their losing run with a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Dundee in Paisley, a result that will feel particularly significant given their recent struggles. The Buddies had arrived on the back of four straight league defeats and sitting in the relegation section, but they showed greater urgency and control to take all three points against a Dundee side that had started the day fourth in the table.
It was a scrappy, competitive encounter in difficult conditions, with both sides willing to go direct and make the most of the elements. St Mirren were the better team for long spells, creating the clearer openings and showing more conviction in front of goal, while Dundee struggled to impose themselves for sustained periods.
Dundee did find a way back into the game and made St Mirren sweat in the closing stages, but the home side held firm to secure a much-needed win. The result lifts St Mirren’s spirits and gives them a platform to build on, while Dundee will be frustrated at failing to strengthen their position in the top six despite their encouraging start to the campaign.
The Premiership returns on Sunday with two more fixtures as Hibernian play host to league leaders Celtic and Motherwell welcome Hearts to Fir Park.
Celtic can restore their four-point lead at the top by beating bottom-of-the-table Hibernian, while Hearts will look to bounce back from last weekend’s thumping 7-1 defeat to Celtic when they travel to Motherwell.