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Apr 11, 2026

Hearts secure 3-1 win over Motherwell while Celtic edge St Mirren to tighten Scottish Premiership race

AI Summary
Celtic moved into second place with a 1‑0 victory over St Mirren, while Hearts extended their league lead by beating Motherwell 3‑1 thanks to two late goals. The results keep the title race tight, with Rangers set to chase the leaders, and other Scottish Premiership fixtures delivering drama across the board.

Celtic overtook rivals Rangers to sit second in the Scottish Premiership after a narrow 1‑0 win against St Mirren, while Hearts preserved their lead at the top with a late‑filled 3‑1 triumph over Motherwell.

At Celtic Park, Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain broke the deadlock in the 15th minute. After a blocked attempt from Benjamin Nygren, Kieran Tierney delivered a precise cross that Oxlade‑Chamberlain struck into the bottom corner, giving Celtic a comfortable first‑half advantage.

St Mirren dominated possession in the second half but failed to create clear chances, allowing Celtic to hold onto the solitary goal.

The encounter marked the first meeting between the sides since St Mirren’s surprise 3‑1 cup win over Celtic in December, a result that proved difficult to repeat.

For the first time since November, the Green Brigade were welcomed back to Celtic Park, adding a vibrant backdrop to what many view as a dress rehearsal for next week’s Scottish Cup semi‑final.

At Tynecastle, Motherwell took an early lead through Emmanuel Longelo. Hearts responded quickly when Cláudio Braga equalised with an overhead kick. The match seemed poised for a draw until Lawrence Shankland converted a penalty after Stephen Welsh was judged to have fouled Landry Kaboré. Kaboré then added a third in stoppage time, sealing the three‑point win for Hearts.

In the north, Stephen Robinson ended his winless streak since moving from St Mirren to Aberdeen, guiding his side to a 2‑0 victory over Hibernian at Pittodrie, with Kevin Nisbet scoring in each half.

At Tannadice, Zac Sapsford rescued Dundee United with a late penalty, completing a dramatic 3‑2 comeback against Livingston. The hosts had led through a first‑half goal by Will Ferry, but Livingston responded with a quickfire double from Lewis Smith before United equalised via substitute Krisztian Keresztes.

Meanwhile, Kelle Roos produced a crucial stoppage‑time penalty save against Dundee striker Joe Westley, earning Kilmarnock a vital point in their relegation battle. The decision followed a lengthy VAR check that delayed the penalty by six minutes.

Kilmarnock’s earlier clash with Dundee saw a roller‑coaster finish: Joe Hugill opened the scoring, Simon Murray equalised for Dundee, Michael Schjønning‑Larsen restored the lead for Kilmarnock before Scott Wright’s late goal forced extra‑time drama.