Dundee United have moved to third in the Scottish Premiership after cruising to a 4-1 victory over Hearts at Tannadice.

Stuart Armstrong's opener was cancelled out four minutes later through a Jamie Hamill penalty as both sides went in level at the break.

However, the hosts pulled clear in the second half, with Brian Graham re-establishing the lead early on, before two goals in the final five minutes from Gary Mackay-Steven and John Rankin consigned the visitors to their ninth defeat of the season.

Hearts, who remain on -3 in Scotland's top flight after their 15-point deduction, stay at the foot of the table, while Jackie McNamara's men move to within three points of second-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Aberdeen's 2-0 victory at 10-man St Johnstone allowed Derek McInnes's men to go level on points with United in the hunt for European qualification.

Peter Pawlett and Niall McGinn struck either side of a Rory Fallon red card to secure victory for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock climbed out of the relegation places at the expense of Ross County after beating the fellow strugglers 2-1 at Victoria Park.

Kris Boyd proved the difference by netting a 44th-minute winner after Stuart Kettlewell had cancelled out Chris Johnston's opening goal on seven minutes.

Elsewhere, Partick Thistle spurned the chance to go five points clear of the drop zone after surrendering a 1-0 lead over Hibernian in the dying stages.

Kris Doolan had struck first to give Thistle the advantage, but it would not be enough to earn victory as James Collins hit a stoppage-time equaliser to deny Alan Archibald's men a valuable win.

Results in full: Dundee United 4-1 Hearts, Hibernian 1-1 Partick Thistle, Ross County 1-2 Kilmarnock, St Mirren 0-0 Inverness CT, St Johnstone 0-2 Aberdeen