Celtic move 12 points clear at Premiership summit after Motherwell thrashing

Celtic moved 12 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership following a 4-0 victory over Motherwell.

Brendan Rodgers’ side extended their cushion at the summit into double figures, after second-place Rangers were beaten 2-1 by St Mirren.

The Hoops broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, with Arne Engels slotting home from the penalty spot after Aston Oxborough collided with Hyunjun Yang.

Celtic doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Liam Scales flicked Engels’ corner into the path of Daizen Maeda, who nodded home.

It was 3-0 on 74 minutes via Nicolas Kuhn’s deflected low drive, while Reo Hatate drilled in a fourth with nine minutes remaining.

Four different goalscorers & a clean sheet as the Celts secure the points at Paradise!#CELMOT | #CelticFCpic.twitter.com/fT44YjIuQx

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 26, 2024

Rangers suffered stoppage-time heartbreak as Caolan Boyd-Munce snatched all three points for St Mirren.

Oisin Smyth’s first-half penalty was cancelled out by Danilo just after the hour mark, but Boyd-Munce’s stunning 20-yard strike sent Philippe Clement’s side home empty-handed.

Dwight Gayle was the matchwinner as Hibernian edged out rivals Hearts in the Edinburgh derby.

A pair of own-goals from Kye Rowles and Rocky Bushiri left the contest all square at half-time, but Gayle struck the decisive goal 12 minutes from time to secure Hibs’ first victory at Tynecastle in five years.

Aberdeen’s slump in form continued, with a 4-0 defeat at Kilmarnock extending their winless streak to seven matches.

Kyle Vassell and David Watson put the hosts in control at the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park, while Innes Cameron and Bruce Anderson added further gloss to the scoreline later on.