SPL as it happened

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By Thomas McGuigan

1533: Eighteen goals, two red cards and more than a few talking points from six Scottish Premier League games on Christmas Eve. The title race is hotting up as we approach New Year, while Dunfermline are at the foot of the table, behind Hibs on goal difference. Thanks for your company this afternoon. Merry Christmas, we're back on Wednesday for more of the same. Cheers!

1529: Hibs have yet to register a point in the Pat Fenlon reign. And some Easter Road fans are far from happy. Flanners_man88 tweets: "Massive changes needed at Hibs. Whole back four need to be shown the door. #gutless"

1527: "I thoroughly enjoyed it and I thought the boys deserved it. We got ourselves into a 2-1 lead and I think it was everything that we deserved." St Mirren boss Danny Lennon reflects on the victory over nine-man Rangers

1525: Celtic narrow the gap on league leaders Rangers to a single point ahead of next Wednesday's white-hot Old Firm derby, despite a late surge from Kilmarnock.

1524: FULL-TIME CELTIC 2-1 KILMARNOCK

1523: FULL-TIME DUNDEE UTD 3-1 HIBS
DUNFERMLINE 0-3 ST JOHNSTONE

1522: Dundee United's Scott Allan, who was booed by the home fans when he came off the bench, tests Graham Stack with a powerful shot from distance.

1521: Kilmarnock striker Paul Heffernan is flattened by Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster and the ball runs loose but James Dayton cannot profit for Killie. The visitors are pressing for a late, late equaliser...

Kilmarnock goal: Forget that doze on the couch! Kilmarnock pull a goal back and set up a nervy finish as Danny Racchi scores out of nothing, the substitute firing home from 28 yards.

Dundee Utd goal: Game over at Tannadice. With the Hibs defence posted missing, Jon Daly runs on to a header from John Rankin and slots a great shot beyond Graham Stack.

1518: CELTIC 2-1 KILMARNOCK

1516: GOAL! DUNDEE UTD 3-1 HIBS (JON DALY)

1514: Chances are few and far between as the Celtic v Kilmarnock clash threatens to doze off not unlike myself plonked on the couch on Christmas Day after a second helping of turkey and watching Only Fools and Horses...

1513: St Johnstone's Calum Davidson is unlucky to see a powerful shot deflect off the back of namesake Murray Davidson as the visitors go in search of their fourth goal of the day. The wind has gone out of the Pars's sails today.

1511: Dundee United keeper Dusan Pernis lets a shot from Danny Galbraith squirm from his grasp but Gavin Gunning is on hand to hammer the ball clear. United lead 2-1 with seven minutes remaining.

1509: While I'm marvelling at some cracking SPL games this afternoon, two of my colleagues are swapping tips on cooking tomorrow's Christmas turkey. I kid you not. I feel like sticking both their heads in the oven...

1507 From Ryan Heatly on Twitter using #bbcsportsound: "Was backing Aberdeen to build on the last two games. Really disappointing. Craig Brown clearly saving himself for Santa duties." Santa's little helper, surely?

1506: St Johnstone are coasting to victory at East End Park; they're 3-0 up and the Pars have been toothless in front of goal.

Dundee Utd goal: United are in front as Jon Daly rises highest to nod home a great delivery from Paul Dixon. Peter Houston's men have come from behind and lead at Tannadice.

1504: GOAL! DUNDEE UTD 2-1 HIBS (JON DALY)

1503: Cha Du-Ri works hard to put the ball on a plate for Ki Sung-Yueng but the midfielder takes a fresh air swipe and the chance is gone.

1501: Celtic are on course to reduce Rangers' lead at the top of the table to a single point ahead of next Wednesday's Old Firm derby.

1500: The ball falls nicely for Dundee United's Johnny Russell but the striker shoots high and wide from 16 yards.

1457: Pat Fenlon will be hoping for his first point or points as Hibs boss - it remains 1-1 at Tannadice with about 20 minutes remaining.

1456: Georgios Samaras's chances of hat-trick are dashed as he is replaced by Mohamed Bangura.

1455 Bringthemonjpn using the hashtag #bbcsportsound: "Rangers didn't set me up for a Merry Christmas with that performance. Or maybe they did. Ginger wine out now..."

1453 Jeanettedot tweets: "Shocking performance today. Discipline gone, no composure, no nothing. It'll be a long 90 for Rangers on Wednesday night."

1452 FULL-TIME: HEARTS 2-0 MOTHERWELL

Dundee Utd goal: United are level as Johnny Russell shows great composure to round keeper Graham Stack and slot home following great work by Gary Mackay-Steven.

1449: Gary Hooper takes a neat touch past Manuel Pascali but nicks his shot wide as Celtic chase a third.

1448: GOAL! DUNDEE UTD 1-1 HIBS (RUSSELL)

St Johnstone goal: Saints are putting Dunfermline to the sword here. Liam Craig easily beats Chris Smith for St Johnstone's third of the afternoon after a great ball from Fran Sandaza.

1446: GOAL! DUNFERMLINE 0-3 ST JOHNSTONE (LIAM CRAIG)

Celtic goal: It's Georgios Samaras on target again as the galloping Greek bears down on goal and slams the ball into the bottom corner to double Celtic's lead.

1443: GOAL! CELTIC 2-0 KILMARNOCK (SAMARAS)

1441 FULL TIME: ST MIRREN 2-1 RANGERS

St Johnstone goal: The Perth outfit double their lead and it's another horror moment for Parks keeper Chris Smith as he spills a Marcus Haber shot and Fran Sandaza lashes the ball home from close range.

1439: GOAL! DUNFERMLINE 0-2 ST JOHNSTONE (SANDAZA)

1438: Tempers flare at St Mirren Park as Marc McAusland reacts angrily to a sliding challenge from Nikica Jelavic. The pair are booked for squaring up to each other and Gers skipper Steven Davis also goes into the book for a bit of squabbling.

1437: Darren Barr concedes a free-kick against Motherwell's Keith Lasley but Tom Hateley's powerful shot whizzes just over the bar.

1436: We're back under way for the second half in our 1330 games...

1434: Rangers manager Ally McCoist looks on in disbelief as Dorin Goian is sent packing after picking up a second yellow card for a foolish tug at Gary Teale's shirt.

1433 RED CARD: Rangers defender Dorin Goain

1432: St Mirren bring on Nigel Hasselbaink for Steven Thompson as they look to give Rangers an additional defensive headache with a little over five minutes remaining.

1430: Rangers sub Kyle Bartley has joined Nikica Jelavic up front. We could see a few high balls aimed at the big man on loan from Arsenal in the closing stages.

1428: St Mirren are missing a trick here: time and again they have the chance to break in numbers against 10-man Rangers but they're continually flagged offside. Danny Lennon's hopping mad in his Andre Villas-Boas raincoat on the touchline.

1425: St Johnstone lead by a goal to nil at the break at East End Park, courtesy of a Chris Smith own goal, after he looked on in horror as he got the last touch on Liam Craig's corner. Thankfully, we've received no further reports of smoke bombs or a second "rumpus".

1423: FULL-TIME INVERNESS CT 2-1 ABERDEEN

1421: David Templeton, who has been the pick of the Hearts bunch today, trots off to wild acclaim from the home fans inside Tynecastle and Andy Driver makes a somewhat surprise appearance, after being quoted as saying he didn't want to play for manager Paulo Sergio again...

1420: Aberdeen defender Kari Arnason wastes a great chance to level the scores in added time as he blasts the ball wide! Inverness are on course to narrow the gap on the Dons to two points.

Celtic goal: Persistent play down the right by Cha Du-Ri pays off as his high ball is headed down into the net by Georgios Samaras, second before the half-time whistle.

1417 HALF-TIME: DUNDEE UTD 0-1 HIBS
CELTIC 1-0 KILMARNOCK

1417: GOAL! CELTIC 1-0 KILMARNOCK (GEORGIOS SAMARAS)

1415: Midfielder Victor Wanyama blasts the ball high over the Killie goal but the referee had already blown for a free-kick to the visitors: frustration is building among the home fans at Celtic Park.

1414: Motherwell manager Stuart McCall must've delivered a few rockets in the dressing room at the break as they've come roaring out of the traps but still trail 2-0 at Tynecastle.

1412: Rangers continue to search for an equaliser and, if anything, St Mirren appear to be down to 10 men.

1411: Leigh Griffiths comes agonisingly close to doubling Hibs' lead with a header but Pat Fenlon's side remain a goal to the good against Dundee United at Tannadice and are looking good.

Aberdeen goal: The Dons are suddenly back in this game as Rory Fallon fires home a left-foot shot and Inverness have yet to keep a clean sheet in any match this season...

1406: GOAL! DUNFERMLINE 0-1 ST JOHNSTONE (CHRIS SMITH O.G.)

1404: GOAL! INVERNESS CT 2-1 ABERDEEN (RORY FALLON)

1402: Rangers are pressing hard for an equaliser and Steven Davis picks out Nikica Jelavic but the big striker lacks composure and shoots wide when one-on-one with keeper Craig Samson. What a chance! Moments earlier St Mirren defender Marc McAusland connected with Gary Teale's free kick at the back post but could only nudge the ball wide from close range.

1401: Inverness goal: Gregory Tade somehow manages to slide a ball through a packed Aberdeen defence to find the net and double the hosts' lead.

1400: St Mirren gaffer Danny Lennon, sporting an natty Andre Villas-Boas raincoat, is doing his dinger as a Lee Wallace handball goes unpunished right under his nose.

1359: GOAL! INVERNESS CT 2-0 ABERDEEN (GREGORY TADE)

Hibs goal: The visitors are ahead at Tannadice as a predatory "toe poke" from Leigh Griffiths leaves Dusan Pernis helpless.

Inverness goal: Terry Butcher's men break the deadlock as Roman Golobart heads home from close range.

1355: Celtic's delivery has let them down while Killie seem happy to sit in for now, wary of opening themselves up.

1354: GOAL! DUNDEE UTD 0-1 HIBS (LEIGH GRIFFITHS)

1353: GOAL! INVERNESS 1-0 ABERDEEN (ROMAN GOLOBART

1351: St Johnstone look the likelier to score at East End Park and they are hemming the Pars in. But it remains goalless.

1349: Despite my note of festive optimism, there's little to warm the hearts of Inverness and Aberdeen fans early in the second half. "It's a good game if you enjoy watching players compete against each other in high-intensity tackles. But there's not really been exciting stuff for fans to watch," says BBC Scotland pundit Brian Irvine at the Caledonian Stadium

1448: Gary Hooper flicks the ball wide after Cammy Bell spills a shot by James Forrest. The normally deadly Hooper off target on this occasion for Celtic and it remains goalless.

1446: BBC Sportsound pundit Derek Ferguson has informed us that the St Johnstone fans inside East End Park for the game against Dunfermline have let off a smoke bomb, causing a bit of a "rumpus". I'd love to read a poem by the legendary Jim Leishman on the whole festive debacle!

1342: Hearts midfielder Scott Robinson blasts the ball high over the bar, while having better options to his left and right. The Jambos are threatening to demolish 'Well here.

1341: Kilmarnock winger Dean Sheils fires across the face of the Celtic goal after good work by Paul Heffernan.

1339: Lee McCulloch's dismissal has excited the Twitterati. "The elbow looks to me not violent and a bit accidental: harsh red card," says Silvio Di Fede and The_Panick asks "When will McCulloch learn?"

1338: James Forrest smashes a thunderous shot wide of the Kilmarnock goal. Good effort from the Celtic winger.

1336: HALF-TIME ST MIRREN 2-1 RANGERS

St Mirren goal: The Buddies are going wild in Paisley as they take the lead against 10-man Rangers as Paul McGowan races in behind the visitors' defence to pick up a pass from David Barron and places a neat finish into the corner of the net. Saints boss Danny Lennon breaks into a wee David Pleat-style jig on the touchline...

1334: We're under way in our remaining SPL games at Celtic Park, Tannadice and East End Park...

1333: GOAL! ST MIRREN 2-1 RANGERS (PAUL McGOWAN)

St Mirren goal: It's been coming. St Mirren are level as a patient passing move ends with Aaron Mooy waltzing through a couple of challenges on the edge of the penalty area before lashing a powerful shot beyond Allan McGregor. It's all-square in Paisley.

1331: GOAL! ST MIRREN 1-1 RANGERS (AARON MOOY)

Hearts goal: The Jambos are turning up the heat on the Steelmen and winger David Templeton, who's playing like the star man on Pro Evolution Soccer, skips past Tom Hateley before crossing for Stephen Elliott to sweep the ball home.

1328: GOAL! HEARTS 2-0 MOTHERWELL (STEPHEN ELLIOTT)

1327 TEAMS FROM EAST END PARK:
DUNFERMLINE: Smith, Jason Thomson, Dowie, Keddie, Boyle, Willis, Hardie, Burns, Cardle, Graham, Barrowman. Subs: Goodfellow, Mason, Kirk, Potter, Buchanan, Ryan Thomson, Byrne.
ST JOHNSTONE: Enckelman, MacKay, Anderson, McCracken, Callum Davidson, Millar, Morris, Murray Davidson, Craig, Sandaza, Haber. Subs: Mannus, Maybury, Moon, Finnigan, Durnan, McIntosh, Gray.
Referee: Craig Thomson

1325: Hearts winger David Templeton fires in a ferocious drive just wide of Darren Randolph's goal as they look to double their lead: it's one-way traffic at Tynecastle.

1324 TEAMS FROM TANNADICE:
DUNDEE UTD: Pernis, Neilson, Dillon, Gunning, Dixon, Armstrong, Robertson, Rankin, Russell, Daly, Mackay-Steven. Subs: Banks, Kenneth, Douglas, Dalla Valle, Allan, Dow, Hilson.
HIBERNIAN: Stack, Hart, Hanlon, O'Hanlon, Stephens, Wotherspoon, Scott, Palsson, Stevenson, Griffiths, Sproule. Subs: Brown, Booth, Murray, Galbraith, Sodje, Towell, Welsh.
Referee: Stevie O'Reilly

1323: Rangers keeper Allan McGregor makes a great instinctive save as Steven Thompson gets a flick on a corner from Paul McGowan.

1321: Inverness and Aberdeen fans deserve their half-time pie & bovril after a fairly low key opening 45 minutes in the windswept Highlands. Hopefully, there'll be a little more in the way of goalmouth action after the break to offer some festive cheer...

1320 HALF-TIME: INVERNESS CT 0-0 ABERDEEN

Hearts goal: The hosts break the deadlock at Tynecastle, courtesy of a howitzer from Ian Black as he fires an unstoppable shot past Darren Randolph. The Jambos are rewarded for their early pressure and lead 1-0.

1318: GOAL! HEARTS 1-0 MOTHERWELL (IAN BLACK)

1317: Maurice Edu is on to shore things up in the Rangers midfield. Gregg Wylde is the man to make way as Ally McCoist shuffles his pack following Lee McCulloch's dismissal.

1316 TEAMS FROM CELTIC PARK:
CELTIC: Forster, Cha, Wanyama, Mulgrew, Ledley, Forrest, Brown, Kayal, Ki, Samaras, Hooper. Subs: Zaluska, Izaguirre, Kelvin Wilson, Bangura, McCourt, Rogne, McGeough.
KILMARNOCK: Bell, Fowler, Pascali, Sissoko, Hay, Shiels, Kelly, McKeown, Buijs, Heffernan, Harkins. Subs: Jaakkola, Dayton, Kroca, Racchi, Pursehouse, Fisher, Kennedy.
Referee: George Salmond

1315: Graham Carey, with his ear still throbbing from that clout from Lee McCulloch, fires a long-range effort over the crossbar.

1314: BBC Scotland pundit Billy Dodds says referee Steven McLean's decision to show McCulloch the red card was spot on. Rangers boss Ally McCoist is pacing the technical area: he's not a happy camper...

1310 RED CARD: Rangers are down to ten men as midfielder Lee McCulloch is given his marching orders for a stray elbow challenge on Graham Carey.

1309: Mopgaw tweets: "Win for the Dons and both the Old Firm and we can start looking towards the top six! COYR!"

1308: Former Rangers favourite Nacho Novo is watching his old team from the main stand in Paisley. He looks frozen stiff. The Spaniard must have lost some of that adopted Scottish grit after returning to play in his homeland.

1307: Motherwell keeper Darren Randolph repels some early Hearts danger as he deals with David Templeton's low, wicked centre.

1305: Josh Magennis gives Inverness keeper Ryan Esson a scare with a close-range effort that spins out for a corner, it remains goalless in the Highlands.

1304: We're under way at Tynecastle...

1303: Referee Steven McLean takes an age to show Graham Carey a yellow card for a late tackle on Lee McCulloch. He may just have been influenced by the cluster of blue shirts surrounding him to complain.

1302: "What a whirlwind start, we've got the first goal but I don't think it's over yet" BBC Scotland pundit Billy Dodds on Rangers breaking the deadlock

Rangers goal: It's been coming... Lee Wallace races in behind the St Mirren defence and drifts past Marc McAusland with ease before poking a shot beyond Buddies keeper Craig Samson.

1258: GOAL! ST MIRREN 0-1 RANGERS (LEE WALLACE)

1256: It's St Mirren's turn to threaten as Paul McGowan's 25-yard effort is comfortably gathered by Allan McGregor.

1255: What a chance for Rangers! Midfielder Steven Davis threads throw a beautiful ball for Kyle Lafferty to collect but the Northern Ireland international curls an effort inches wide of goal. It remains goalless in Paisley and Inverness.

1253: "It's sometimes easier to play in rain - but wind is one of the most difficult conditions to play in." BBC Scotland pundit Brian Irvine keeps his head down while giving a quick weather update on the blustery conditions in Inverness.

1252: Ryser85 tweets: "Let's hope Aberdeen can keep their form going and Rangers can do us a favour and beat St Mirren."

1251: Rangers respond with a lightening break and Gregg Wylde flashes a shot wide rather than play in the unmarked Kyle Lafferty - the game is wide open!

1250: St Mirren string together about a dozen passes but the move fizzles out as they fail to get an effort on target to test Allan McGregor. Positive start, though, from the Buddies.

1249: From Graeme in Edinburgh by text on 80295: "I hope Hearts can play today like they did last week but my worry would be especially for the derby on the 2nd. How many of those players will want to put their foot in knowing an injury could cost them a move?"

1248: We're under way in Paisley for St Mirren against league leaders Rangers.

1245: Gergory Tade puts a tempting ball into the Aberdeen penalty area, but none of his team-mates can profit and a chance for Inverness goes a-begging.

1244: "Rangers haven't been firing on all cylinders recently but winning championships is all about accruing points."
BBC Scotland commentator Rob Maclean

1240: Celtic manager Neil Lennon has raised concerns over playing SPL games on Christmas Eve and believes it's unfair to ask fans to come through the turnstiles on Christmas Eve. It'll be interesting to see whether it has an impact on attendances at this afternoon's six SPL games.

1236: Hearts won't provide any pies or home baking this afternoon, with speculation that pundit Sandy Clark's appetite is the reason behind the move. In response, Paleandmorbid tweets: "Tell Billy Dodds to stop crying, put his hand in his pocket and pay for the pie. I have to pay for my pies!" Consider it done!

1234: Inverness defender Roman Golobart picks up a yellow card for a late challenge on striker Scott Vernon. Not much festive goodwill there...

1232: BBC Radio Scotland pundit Allan Preston tweets: "Well win today and 3rd place has gone for Hearts I reckon with all the turmoil."

1231 TEAMS FROM TYNECASTLE:
HEARTS: Kello, Hamill, Webster, Zaliukas, McGowan, Taouil, Mrowiec, Black, Robinson, Templeton, Elliott. Subs: MacDonald, Barr, DriveR, Obua, Novikovas, Skacel, Stewart.
MOTHERWELL: Randolph, Hateley, Hutchinson, Craigan, Hammell, Hateley, Lasley, Hughes, Law, Murphy, Higdon. Subs: Bradley, Humphrey, McHugh, Forbes, Page, Clancy, Carswell.
Referee: Crawford Allan

1230: We're under way in the Highlands!

1224: Celtic left back Emilio Izaguirre is in the squad this afternoon after working his way back to fitness following a broken ankle sustained against Aberdeen in August.

1222: The Buddies draft in fit-again Lee Mair, while Aaron Mooy also starts against Rangers. Rangers make three changes. Kyle Lafferty, Lee McCulloch and Dorin Goian, return to the starting line-up, while Sone Aluko has to settle for a place on the bench after serving a two-match ban for diving.

1220: Inverness midfielder Andrew Shinnie misses out against the Dons as does defender Ross Tokely. Defender Thomas Piermayr has recovered from a back injury to feature while David Davis returns from suspension for the hosts. Aberdeen make four changes: Youl Mawene, Andrew Considine, Chris Clark and Josh Magennis come in, while Rory McArdle, Rory Fallon and Fraser Fyvie drop to the bench and Mohamed Chalali misses out.

1218: "We totally respect Rangers and the winning mentality they have. The pitch will be slick and greasy and we're looking to put on a show for our fans." St Mirren boss Danny Lennon

1215: Terry Butcher will have his Inverness troops fired up for battle in the Highlands this afternoon. They're five points behind the Dons and won't want to slip further behind.

1212: TEAMS FROM PAISLEY:
ST MIRREN: Samson, van Zanten, McAusland, Mair, Tesselaar, Carey, Barron, McGowan, McLean, Mooy, Thompson. Subs: Smith, Murray, Thomson, Hasselbaink, McShane, Teale, Haddad.
RANGERS: McGregor, Whittaker, Goian, Bocanegra, Papac, Wylde, Davis, McCulloch, Wallace, Lafferty, Jelavic. Subs: Alexander, Broadfoot, Edu, Aluko, Bartley, Bendiksen, McCabe.
Referee: Steven McLean

1210 TEAMS FROM THE CALEDONIAN STADIUM:
INVERNESS CT: Esson, Piermayr, Golobart, Graeme Shinnie, Gillet, Cox, Hayes, Davis, Tade, Foran, McKay. Subs: Tuffey, Tansey, Ross, Morrison, Sutherland, Doran.
ABERDEEN: Brown, Jack, Mawene, Considine, Foster, Clark, Milsom, Osbourne, Arnason, Magennis, Vernon. Subs: Gonzalez, McArdle, Mackie, Robertson, Fallon, Fyvie, Megginson.
Referee: Alan Muir

1207: St Mirren's last home league win against Rangers was way back in October 2008 when Stephen McGinn scored the only goal of the game. The Buddies earned a 1-1 draw at Ibrox earlier this season. McCoist's men are looking to extend their four-point lead at the top of the table.

1205: Should Rangers win in Paisley this afternoon, Ally McCoist's men will remain top of the SPL table going into 2012, irrespective of what happens in next Wednesday's Old Firm derby.

1204: Remember, you can get in touch by tweeting using the hashtag #bbcsportsound send me a direct message @thomasmcg76 or text via 80295.

1202: We have various kick-off times for our six festive crackers, just to keep Santa on his toes...
INVERNESS CT v ABERDEEN (1230)
ST MIRREN v RANGERS (1245)
HEARTS v MOTHERWELL (1300)
CELTIC v KILMARNOCK (1330)
DUNDEE UTD v HIBS (1330)
DUNFERMLINE v ST JOHNSTONE (1330)

1200: Good afternoon and welcome to our festive edition of Saturday's Scottish Premier League: we've got six games to enjoy, so forego the last-minute Christmas shopping frenzy, grab a mince pie & party hat and pull up a chair...