Mendes and Smith see red as Gers held by Killie

Rangers held on for a goalless draw at Kilmarnock on Saturday after Pedro Mendes and boss Walter Smith were sent off.

Portuguese midfielder Mendes saw red for two bookings before half-time and Smith was sent to the stands for protesting too aggressively against the decision.

But despite playing for 45 minutes with 10 men, the Scottish champions – who have now drawn their last two league matches – were able to withstand severe Kilmarnock pressure to maintain their unbeaten record.

Their cause was helped when Killie’s Manuel Pascali was dismissed for a second booking nine minutes from full-time.

The point keeps Rangers above Celtic but the Hoops have the opportunity to return to the top of the table on Sunday, when Hearts visit Parkhead.

Smith was still fuming over Mendes’s red card after the match and said: “I didn’t think there was anything to do with indiscipline. I didn’t think the first yellow was warranted.

“It wasn’t a bad game in terms of tackles or anything like that.

“It was always going to be a difficult game for us. It didn’t help having a man sent off in the first half. We held out well enough.”

The draw meant Dundee United could have moved joint-top of the table but they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat against Motherwell.

Ross Forbes scored the winner from the penalty spot but goalkeeper John Ruddy was the real hero as the Steelmen kept up their unbeaten run.

Forbes netted his sixth goal of the campaign from the spot after Jim O’Brien had been brought down by Sean Dillon midway through the second half.

On-loan Everton keeper Ruddy then pulled off a superb triple-save to deny Darren Dods, Danny Cadamarteri and Andy Webster, all from point-blank range, as United blew the chance to go level with Rangers.

Motherwell rose to fourth place, level on points with Hibs, who beat St Johnstone 3-0 at Easter Road.

Former Arsenal trainee Anthony Stokes opened his Hibs account with a double either side of a long-range drive by Derek Riordan.

Aberdeen won at home for the first time this season, Charlie Mulgrew’s free-kick securing a 1-0 win over 10-man St Mirren, who had Lee Mair sent off against his former club.

Falkirk remain bottom following a 0-0 draw at Hamilton.