Scottish Premiership round-up: Wins for Rangers, Hearts & Motherwell

๐Ÿ€ ๐™Ž๐™˜๐™ค๐™ง๐™š ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™š๐™™๐™ž๐™˜๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ – Game One

โž 105 #Heat
โž 114 #Nuggets

Nikola Jokic and Jimmy Butler go head-to-head in Game One of the #NBAFinals. Two of ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ standout players in the entire league this season. The @GeniusSports predictor favors Denver.

#NBA

๐Ÿ€ ๐™’๐™ž๐™ฃ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™—๐™–๐™—๐™ž๐™ก๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎ – Game One

โž 22% #Heat
โž 78% #Nuggets

Ball Arena plays host to the @nuggets‘ first ever #NBAFinals appearance. Home advantage and @MiamiHEAT‘s grueling 7-game series with Boston, sees them as favorites. โ›ฐ๏ธ

#NBA

๐Ÿ† Tonight: Game One, #NBAFinals
๐Ÿ€ Soon: Round One, #NBADraft

It’s never too early to think about the @NBADraft. With all eyes on Denver, teams at the other end of the league will be hoping a good draft night can turn around their fortunes. ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ

#NBA
thegeniusplaybook.com/when-is-the-nbโ€ฆ

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Rangers 1-0 Dundee United

The league leaders needed a penalty to see off a depleted Dundee United; the visitors hit by a Covid outbreak.

It was a subdued first half, Dundee United testing through Nicky Clark and Chris Mochrie โ€“ one of four teenagers in the starting 11 โ€“ whilst Rangersโ€™ Alfredo Morelos dragged one effort wide before Trevor Carson in the United goal tipped a header over the bar.

Rangers started to create better chances in the second period, Alfredo Morelos again off-target and Trevor Carson produced an excellent save from close range to deny Scott Wright. The breakthrough arrived in the 71st minute from the penalty-spot, James Tavernier converting after his cross had been blocked by Scott McMannโ€™s raised arm.

Alfredo Morelos had a goal ruled out as Rangers searched to put the game beyond Dundee United and Joe Aribo had a shot deflected wide. Dundee United almost earned a point in injury-time as Darren Watsonโ€™s header came back off the Rangers bar.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 18: James Tavernier scores to make it 1-0 Rangers during a cinch Premiership match between Rangers and Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium, on December 18, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Dundee 0-1 Heart of Midlothian

Jamie Walker scored the only goal of the game 15 minutes from time to maintain Heartsโ€™ position in third place.

Dundee went closest to scoring in the first half through Paul McGowan, before Ben Woodburnโ€™s attempt for the visitors was too high.

Taylor Moore, Jamie Walker and Cammy Devlin all threatened for Hearts, and Walker did have the ball in the net, but after the referee had blown for a Hearts free kick. It was the Edinburgh sideโ€™s first attempt on target that proved decisive. Aaron McEneffโ€™s shot was deflected onto the post and Walker was the first to react to finish from a tight angle. Dundee pursued an equaliser as the fog fell on Denโ€™s Park, but neither Paul McGowan nor Danny Mullen could convert their chances.

DUNDEE, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 18: Christie Elliott and Jamie Walker in action during a cinch Premiership match between Dundee and Heart of Midlothian at the Kilmac Stadium, on December 18, 2021, in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Livingston 1-1 Ross County

Goals at the end of each half ensured the points were shared in Livingston, as Ross County the visitors were looking to move out of the relegation play-off place.

Ross County took the lead in first half injury time – David Cancolaโ€™s 25-yard shot going into the top corner despite Max Stryjek getting his hand to it.

Ross Callaghan nearly doubled Countyโ€™s lead, but his shot hit the woodwork. Livi defender Ayo Obileye passed up a golden chance of an equaliser before his 89th minute header levelled the tie. Jason Holt nearly won the game for Livingston in injury-time, but the crossbar saved Livingston on this occasion.

LIVINGSTON, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 05: Ayo Obileye celebrates his equaliser for Livingston during a cinch Premiership match between Livingston and Ross County at the Tony Macaroni Arena, on December 18, 2021, in Livingston, Scotland. (Photo by Roddy Scott/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Motherwell 2-0 St Johnstone

Dean Cornelius put the home side in front after 17 minutes with a well-placed shot from the edge of the box. Stephen Oโ€™Donnell had a shot deflected wide, while Liam Craig fizzed a powerful effort wide of the post.

The Lanarkshire side were 2-0 up after 55 minutes – Kevin van Veen finishing off a twisting and turning run to seal the points. St Johnstone failed to create any real chances as they find themselves adrift at the bottom.

What it all means: The big picture

There were only four games this week due to Celtic and Hibernian being in League Cup Final action. Rangers took advantage of the opportunity and move seven points clear at the top; Celtic remain eight points clear in second. Hearts maintain their position in third, Motherwell, Dundee United and Aberdeen make up the rest of the top six.

There is no change in the bottom six places: Hibs remain seventh; Livingston three points back in eighth – extending their lead over St Mirren to two points. Dundee remain 10th, Ross County are one point behind, but now one ahead of 12th St Johnstone.

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๐Ÿ€ ๐™Ž๐™˜๐™ค๐™ง๐™š ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™š๐™™๐™ž๐™˜๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ – Game One

โž 105 #Heat
โž 114 #Nuggets

Nikola Jokic and Jimmy Butler go head-to-head in Game One of the #NBAFinals. Two of ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ standout players in the entire league this season. The @GeniusSports predictor favors Denver.

#NBA

๐Ÿ€ ๐™’๐™ž๐™ฃ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™—๐™–๐™—๐™ž๐™ก๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎ – Game One

โž 22% #Heat
โž 78% #Nuggets

Ball Arena plays host to the @nuggets‘ first ever #NBAFinals appearance. Home advantage and @MiamiHEAT‘s grueling 7-game series with Boston, sees them as favorites. โ›ฐ๏ธ

#NBA

๐Ÿ† Tonight: Game One, #NBAFinals
๐Ÿ€ Soon: Round One, #NBADraft

It’s never too early to think about the @NBADraft. With all eyes on Denver, teams at the other end of the league will be hoping a good draft night can turn around their fortunes. ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ

#NBA
thegeniusplaybook.com/when-is-the-nbโ€ฆ