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Celtic came from behind to beat Hibernian 3-1 as the champions extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 20 points. Martin Boyle gave the visitors the lead but Celtic turned the game around with two goals in four minutes just before the break from Nicolas Kühn and Adam Idah.
Reo Hatate scored his 11th goal of the season in the second half as Celtic inflicted just a second defeat in 20 league matches on David Gray’s team, who remain three points above Aberdeen in the race for third place.
Brendan Rodgers had flagged big changes to his team but the three alterations were all influenced by fitness issues. Kasper Schmeichel and Kuhn returned while Auston Trusty replaced the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Watt's strike hands Saints a lifeline
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Elliot Watt's second-half winner kept St Johnstone's Scottish Premiership survival hopes alive and cranked up the heat on freefalling Ross County.
Simo Valakari's Saints, nine points adrift at the foot of the table in January, moved within three points of the second-bottom Staggies, with a marginally better goal difference, after defeating them 2-1 in a tense showdown at McDiarmid Park.
Kilmarnock ensured Premiership status for another season with an eventful 3-2 win over Dundee at Rugby Park. Attacker Danny Armstrong scored from the spot in the 31st minute to put the hosts ahead, but Dens Park midfielder Lyall Cameron levelled with 15 minutes remaining. Bruce Anderson restored the Killie's lead a minute later and defender Robbie Deas headed in a third in stoppage time, but Cameron drove in his second soon after to ensure a nervous final minutes for the home fans, with the win ensuring they finished safe from a relegation play-off spot.
St Mirren kept their European qualification hopes alive with a comfortable 2-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice. Mikael Mandron opened the scoring for the Buddies in the first half, with Jonah Ayunga sealing the win after the break.
Lawrence Shankland (above) scored twice as Hearts cruised to a 3-0 win at home to Motherwell.
Airdrie must beat Cove Rangers to retain their place in the Scottish Championship after both sides came through their play-off semi-finals on Saturday. Alex Bannon and Ben Wilson struck either side of half-time as Airdrie, who finished ninth in the second tier, beat Stenhousemuir 2-1 at the Albert Bartlett Stadium to complete a 5-2 aggregate success. Cove Rangers, who finished runners-up in League One to the automatically promoted Arbroath, beat Queen of the South 2-1 after the sides had drawn 0-0 in their first leg.
Annan Athletic survived a scare at home to Elgin City before prevailing 5-4 to book a place in the Scottish League One play-off final and keep alive their hopes of retaining their status. Annan will meet East Fife after they overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit to claim a 3-0 win over Edinburgh City with goals from Adam Lareef, Michael McKenna and Alan Trouten.
Lowland League champions East Kilbride will take a two-goal advantage into next week's League Two final second leg after Cameron Elliott scored twice in a 3-1 win against Bonnyrigg Rose.
Photograph: Pete Summers/Shutterstock Editorial
Celtic dominated the early stages but Idah could not beat goalkeeper Jordan Smith when clean through and twice failed to connect with square balls from Daizen Maeda before he eventually netted.
Schmeichel made an excellent stop from Boyle, although the Hibs attacker might have been offside, before being beaten by the same player in the 25th minute. Trusty failed to divert Josh Campbell’s shot to safety and Boyle stabbed home from nine yards.
Arne Engels fired over and Hibs survived a VAR check for handball against Chris Cadden before Celtic turned the game on its head in the final four minutes of the half. Kühn rounded Smith to equalise after Rocky Bushiri had eased Idah off course for Anthony Ralston’s ball over the top, only to leave the coast clear for the German winger.
Kühn soon turned provider as the Hibs defence failed to track Idah’s run and the Irishman slotted home from the through ball.
Bushiri headed not far wide from a long throw early in the second half before Jack Iredale and Kühn were each handed a yellow card following an off-the-ball grapple.
Celtic moved further ahead in the 58th minute after some excellent one-touch football in and around the box, ending with Hatate sweeping home from an Engels pass.
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Idah twice shot over from decent chances, although he was flagged offside from the second, and Schmeichel ensured there would be no nervy finish as he saved from Jordan Obita and substitute Junior Hoilett.
Rodgers introduced 17-year-old midfielder Sean McArdle for a debut in the 85th minute and the young player showed some good touches and a willingness to get forward. Luke McCowan forced a decent late save from Smith as Celtic saw out the win.
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This story will be updated after Sunday’s game between Rangers and Aberdeen (noon BST)
