Scottish Premiership: Celtic go level on points with Hearts at top of table

Daizen Maeda drove Celtic to a 3-1 victory against Falkirk as the champions moved level on points with Premiership leaders Hearts.

The Japan international scored twice and set up another as Martin O’Neill’s side overcame a tough test. Maeda charged down a clearance from Keelan Adams before drilling the ball past the stranded Nicky Hogarth to give Celtic the lead in the 30th minute. The Japan international then won the ball back before setting up Kieran Tierney to double the lead a minute before half-time.

Celtic had come under a period of sustained pressure prior to the opener and Falkirk got themselves back in the game in the when substitute Kyrell Wilson produced a brilliant finish in the 70th minute. But Maeda restored the two-goal cushion when he slotted home in the 83rd minute from Sebastian Tounekti’s low cross.

Aberdeen led from the first minute in their vital match against relegation rivals Kilmarnock, but had to hold on for a 1-0 win in a game where their crossbar was struck three times.

Afeez Aremu netted the early opener and while Aberdeen rarely looked like adding a second Killie’s Aaron Tshibola headed off the bar twice, and Jack Milne came close to an own goal when he headed on to his own woodwork.

The Dons had won their final game before the split, against Hibs, to open up a five-point gap on Kilmarnock who fill the relegation playoff spot and that went some way to easing the tension around the Granite City.

Bottom side Livingston battled for a slim lifeline with a 2-0 win at St Mirren. The Buddies’ emergency keeper Ross Sinclair was making his first start of the season, but it was Livi No 1, Jerome Prior, who made several saves in a first half dominated by Saints.

The visitors improved after the break and in the 67th minute they forced themselves ahead through an Alex Gogic own goal. A strike from substitute Scott Pittman in the 80th minute sealed three points and only Livi’s second league victory of the season since beating Falkirk on 9 August.

Rangers are at home to Motherwell on Sunday, before the leaders visit Hibernian. Dundee United host Dundee in Sunday’s early game.