Scottish Premiership: Miovski raises Rangers to summit after two-year wait

7 hours ago 9

Rangers put pressure on their title rivals by moving top of the Scottish Premiership for the first time in more than two years with a patchy 4-2 win over Dundee United at Ibrox.

Ryan Naderi opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with a close-range finish before Dujon Sterling added a second four minutes from the interval with his first league goal for the Gers. The United forward Amar Fatah reduced the deficit with a strike just before half-time, but Thelo Aasgaard restored the Light Blues’ two-goal advantage in the 52nd minute.

Zach Sapsford returned the nerves to the Ibrox stands with a goal in the 72nd minute, only for his fellow substitute Bojan Miovski to settle the game with a deflected strike with five minutes of normal time remaining.

It was a far from perfect performance, but Danny Rohl’s side moved above Hearts on goal difference with six fixtures remaining, albeit the Jambos have the chance to go back to the top when they travel to Livingston on Sunday. Third-placed Celtic, five points behind their Old Firm rivals, face Dundee at Dens Park later the same day.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Hibernian benefited from a fast start as they defeated Kilmarnock 3-0 at Easter Road to turn up the heat on Motherwell in the battle for fourth. Hibs struck twice in the opening 12 minutes through Owen Elding and Felix Passlack before the substitute Ante Suto notched in stoppage time.

The victory moved David Gray’s side within three points of Well, who briefly held an eight-point advantage over the Hibees a little over a month ago. While Hibernian – now unbeaten in six matches – are chasing a position that would ensure a European place for next season, Killie remain in the relegation playoff spot, three points adrift of St Mirren and Aberdeen.

St Mirren wrecked Stephen Robinson’s hopes of a winning return to Paisley as they overcame Aberdeen 2-0 in a hard-fought encounter at St Mirren Park. The Dons manager returned to his former club for the first time since swapping the Buddies for Aberdeen last month, but he left empty-handed to leave his new side just three points above the relegation playoff spot.

Jonah Ayunga’s 40th-minute opener put St Mirren’s interim manager, Craig McLeish, on his way to back-to-back league victories, before Alex Gogic’s towering 83rd-minute header made sure of a result that moved them level on points with their ninth-placed opponents.

Falkirk secured a top-six finish with a 3-2 win at Motherwell. Barney Stewart opened the scoring with a fine header on three minutes and that set the tone at Fir Park. Elliot Watt’s fizzing volley levelled things up against the run of play but the Bairns pounced before the break to restore their lead as Ben Broggio gleefully tapped into an empty net after Watt’s pass-back had gone astray.

Calvin Miller provided some breathing space just after the hour mark from the spot before the Bairns saw out the remainder of the contest to ensure they finished in the top half of Scotland’s top flight for the first time in 31 years. Tawanda Maswanhise netted with virtually the last kick of the match as the hosts fell to a third loss in four league games.