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SPL wrap: Celtic close in on beaten Rangers

SoccerNews in Scottish Premier League 24 Dec 2011

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Celtic trail Rangers by one point ahead of Wednesday’s Old Firm clash after a Christmas Eve of surprises.

Rangers lost 2-1 at St Mirren, finishing the match with nine men, while arch rivals Celtic beat Kilmarnock 2-1 at home.

St Mirren are rapidly becoming Ally McCoist’s bogey team as they grabbed a late point in a 1-1 draw at Ibrox in October.

Things looked to be going along well for Rangers after Lee Wallace prodded the visitors in front in the 11th minute.

But then Lee McCulloch was red carded for elbowing Graham Carey and the tide started to turn.

St Mirren levelled when Aaron Mooy scored with a terrific strike and Paul McGowan shot his side ahead in first-half stoppage time.

The home side defended stoutly in the second half and Dorin Goian was sent off three minutes from time after a second booking.

Meanwhile, two goals from Georgios Samaras gave Celtic a 2-1 home victory over Kilmarnock.

Samaras headed the home side ahead in first half stoppage time before scoring his second with a driven shot from the edge of the box seven minutes into the second half.

Substitute Danny Racchi pulled one back for the visitors after 87 minutes but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.

First-half goals from Ian Black and Stephen Elliott earned Hearts a 2-0 home win over Motherwell and fifth place in the league table.

Inverness scored twice in six minutes midway through the second half to take the three points at home to Aberdeen.

Roman Golobart scored the opener after 64 minutes and Gregory Tade made it 2-0 five minutes later before Rory Fallon pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 76th minute.

Jon Daly scored twice in the final 15 minutes as Dundee United came from behind to sink lowly Hibs 3-1 at Tannadice.

Leigh Griffiths broke the deadlock on 24 minutes but the home side dominated after the break and Johnny Russell coolly rounded keeper Graham Stack to level on 59 minutes.

Daly’s late brace steered United to sixth in the table.

St Johnstone stayed one point ahead of Hearts with a 3-0 win at Dunfermline in a match that home keeper Chris Smith will want to forget.

Smith punched Liam Craig’s corner into his own net after 36 minutes to gift the visitors the lead.

Francisco Sandaza doubled Smith’s misery in the second half when the keeper failed to gather a Marcus Haber shot and the Spaniard fired in.

Craig doubled his tally after Sandaza set him up with 30 minutes remaining.

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