Scottish Premiership roundup: Rangers close gap to Hearts at top by thrashing Kilmarnock | Scottish Premiership

Rangers closed the gap on the Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts to three points with a 5-1 win against Kilmarnock but it took time to subdue the 10-man visitors at Ibrox.

Hearts lost 1-0 at St Mirren on Tuesday night to open the door, while Celtic’s game at Aberdeen on Wednesday night was postponed.

The Rangers captain, James Tavernier, scored from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after the Killie defender Dom Thompson was sent off by the referee David Dickinson for denying Djeidi Gassama a goalscoring opportunity.

However, the home side struggled to build on that advantage against a team second bottom of the league, and a lack of intensity left the Ibrox fans restless.

The striker Bojan Miovski drove home a second in the 59th minute to lighten the mood and the new signing Andreas Skov Olsen scored his first goal for the club with 15 minutes to go after coming off the bench.

A terrible blunder by the Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland in the 84th minute allowed Greg Kiltie to score a consolation goal for Killie but Oliver Antman, on as a Rangers substitute, and Mikey Moore scored late goals to put a sheen on the scoreline.

The victory enabled Danny Röhl’s side to leapfrog above Celtic, with Hearts due to visit Ibrox in Rangers’ next home league game.

Celtic’s match at Aberdeen was postponed, along with Dundee v Motherwell, after heavy rain led to the pitches at Pittodrie and Dens Park becoming waterlogged.

Aberdeen confirmed shortly before 4.30pm (GMT) that the Pittodrie pitch was not suitable for play. Dundee have struggled with the Dens Park pitch over the past two years and it again fell victim to the heavy rain.

Ante Suto’s dream debut goal helped Hibernian to stage a dramatic late comeback to beat Dundee United 3-2 at Easter Road. The striker, who joined from Croatian side Slaven Belupo on deadline day, looped home a stoppage-time header in an incredible ending.

Hibs went ahead in the first half through Martin Boyle but United seized control when Ross Graham and Max Watters converted from two Kristijan Trapanovski corners.

However, Hibernian rallied late on and, after Elie Youan equalised in the 89th minute, Suto endeared himself to the home fans with the winner.

Marvin Bartley’s debut in the Livingston dugout ended in a 2-1 defeat at home against Falkirk . The Lions’ former captain, assistant manager and first-team coach took over from David Martindale on Sunday, with the former manager moving upstairs to become sporting director after overseeing a 24-game winless run.

First-half goals from Kyrell Wilson and Louie Marsh proved enough for Falkirk despite a spirited fightback from Livi in the second half – highlighted by Connor McLennan’s 47th-minute goal.

The win strengthens Falkirk’s top-six credentials, now sitting eight points clear of Aberdeen, while Livingston remain six points adrift at the bottom.

On Tuesday, Craig Halkett’s first-half red card proved costly for the Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts as they lost 1-0 at St Mirren after a late header from Miguel Freckleton. The centre-back was dismissed in the 29th minute for denying the Saints debutant Jacob Devaney a goalscoring opportunity.

It was the third time in five league games that Hearts had been reduced to 10 men. Unlike the previous two occasions, however, they were unable to grind out a result in Paisley as Freckleton’s 88th-minute header consigned them to a third defeat of the season.