Scottish Premiership: Alfredo Morelos rides his luck to score Rangers winner
Alfredo Morelos left his mark on Hibernian in more ways than one as the striker fired Rangers another huge step closer to the title after a 1-0 win at Easter Road.
The Colombian could easily have been sent off inside 15 minutes after appearing to stamp on Ryan Porteous. But with the full extent of the incident missed by the referee Kevin Clancy, he was free to slot home the only goal of the game just after half-time as Steven Gerrard’s team ticked off another of the challenges before them in their quest for Premiership glory. They now need just eight more wins to clinch their first league crown in a decade.
Celtic returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Hamilton at Parkhead. After four Scottish Premiership games without a win for the first time since 2000, the Hoops looked a bit more like their old selves against the league’s bottom side.
Leigh Griffiths fired in a longdistance opener after 11 minutes and returning strike partner Odsonne Edouard added a neat second early in the second half, with the home side missing a few chances to add sheen to the scoreline. The nine-in-a-row champions remain 23 points behind Rangers.
A late double salvo proved enough to secure Livingston a 2-0 triumph over
Kilmarnock and extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches. A stodgy encounter appeared destined to end in stalemate until the 20-yearold Jaze Kabia, a January signing from Shelbourne, notched his first goal for the Lions after 87 minutes. With Killie rattled the tireless Scott Pittman, celebrating his 250th outing for the club, almost immediately rippled the net to make the points safe.
The Ibrox-bound Scott Wright started for Aberdeen against St Johnstone but neither he nor anyone else at McDiarmid Park could supply the inspiration in a goalless draw.
St Mirren returned to winning ways in style by putting five goals past Dundee United at Tannadice. The Buddies had been bitterly disappointed to lose their Betfred Cup semi-final with Livingston on Sunday but a vital 5-1 Premiership victory went a long way to making amends.
Motherwell came from behind to claim all three points for the first time this season with a 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Ross County. Secondhalf goals from Devante Cole and Bevis Mugabi saw the Steelmen leapfrog County in the Scottish Premiership table, after Oli Shaw had given the hosts an advantage in the 14th minute.