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Scottish Premier League wrap: Celtic edge clear as Rangers stumble

SoccerNews in Scottish Premier League 21 Jan 2012

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Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to four points on Saturday thanks to a 2-0 win at St Mirren.

With Rangers held to a 1-1 draw by Aberdeen at Ibrox, Celtic enjoyed their 11th consecutive league win and extended their unbeaten sequence to 14 matches.

Celtic dominated the opening half at St Mirren Park but failed to capitalise, and they went close to going behind early in the second – with towering goalkeeper Fraser Forster pulling off a brilliant reflex save to keep out Paul McGowan’s close-range effort.

But Celtic’s pressing finally paid off as they took the lead after 71 minutes through James Forrest.

A punched clearance fell to Scott Brown and the Celts’ captain played the ball to Forrest who finished with a neat low shot into the net.

Brown doubled Celtic’s advantage in the 88th minute when he picked up a short corner before curling an incredible effort into the far corner from outside the box to seal the three points in fine style.

After a goalless first half at Ibrox, Aberdeen took the lead when Kari Arnason struck a sweet right-footed shot from the edge of the box past Rangers ‘keeper Allan McGregor in the 63rd minute, but American midfielder Maurice Edu salvaged a point for the Scottish champions four minutes later.

Elsewhere on Saturday, St Johnstone climbed above Motherwell into fourth place courtesy of their thrilling 3-2 win over Hibernian at Easter Road.

Lee Croft gave the Saints the lead on the half-hour mark, but Leigh Griffiths equalised for Hibs from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining.

And what a 20 minutes they were, with Liam Craig restoring St Johnstone’s lead almost immediately.

Callum Booth levelled proceedings once more after 84 minutes, much to the delight of the Hibs faithful, but when Francisco Sandaza lashed a shot past Mark Brown in the Hibs goal with three minutes remaining, the visitors had done enough.

Motherwell drew 1-1 at Dundee United, with an 85th-minute goal from Michael Higdon securing the visitors a point after an own goal from Stephen Craigan put United ahead approaching the half-hour mark.

Dunfermline enjoyed a 3-0 win over Kilmarnock away from home, with goals from Andrew Barrowman, Joe Cardle and Liam Buchanan doing the damage, while Shane Sutherland’s strike four minutes after the break lifted Inverness to a 1-0 win over Hearts.

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