Malik Tillman scored a spectacular goal for Rangers as he helped them to a narrow win over Motherwell, while Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic decimated Hibs.
Motherwell 1-2 Rangers
Rangers scored two second-half goals, but had to withstand a late rally from Motherwell to hold on for the win at Fir Park.
Malik Tillman started and went the distance for the Glasgow side, completing 67 percent of his passes, winning eight duels, and making two tackles along with three shots. James Sands remained on the bench, while on the other side, Joe Efford was not included in Motherwell’s game day squad.
There was little to write home about in the first half, but the second proved to be a dramatic one until the end.
It would be Tillman that provided the inspiration for the visitors as he broke the scoreless deadlock in the 53rd minute. Following a turnover at midfield by Motherwell, James Tavernier played the ball to the young German-American, and he did the rest as he dribbled through a handful of players before firing his shot past goalkeeper Liam Kelly.
The Light Blues doubled their lead in the 69th minute when John Lundstram headed in Borna Barisic’s corner kick.
It appeared Rangers had the game under their control, but they received a scare in the 77th minute when Stuart McKinstry’s deceptive fee-kick deep from the left side gave them a lifeline.
It was then left to the visitors to hold on as they left with all three points in the end.
Rangers remain in second place in the standings with 25 points.
Celtic 6-1 Hibernian
Celtic maintained their two-point lead atop the standings as they thrashed Hibernian to claim the win at Celtic Park.
Cameron Carter-Vickers started an played the entire game for the Hoops, completing 84 percent of his passes, winning six duels and making one tackle.
The hosts went out with a big lead as they scored three goals within the span of 24 minutes. James Forrest opend the scoring after nine minutes followed by a Giorgos Giakoumakis nine minutes later. Forrest then scored his second on the day in the 24th minute.
Hibs tried to get back in the game as they scored a goal in the 56th minute through Elie Youan, but Celtic proved to be too strong as they scored three more to ensure themselves of the win.
Forrest completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute, Giakoumakis scored a second in the 73rd, and Daizen Maeda completed the goal glut with a strike of his own in the 89th minute.
Celtic remains in first place with 27 points.
Notes
In other action around the Scottish Premiership, Christian Ramirez watched from the bench as Aberdeen sealed a 2-0 win over Hearts.
Ian Harkes saw no action as he remained on the bench for Dundee United in their 1-1 draw with Ross County.
In the Championship, Brian Schwake recorded another clean sheet for Greenock Morton in their 1-0 win over Raith Rovers.
Down in League One, Emmanuel Johnson had to watch from the bench as FC Edinburgh suffered a 1-0 loss to Dunfermline Athletic.
