Aberdeen closed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to 18 points with a 1-0 win over St Mirren, courtesy of a 79th-minute penalty by Adam Rooney.

The victory ensured that they stay one point clear of third-placed Motherwell, who came from behind to defeat Partick Thistle 4-3.

Kallum Higginbotham scored twice in six second-half minutes for the away side, but late goals from John Sutton and Stephen McManus kept them hot on the tails of Aberdeen.

Dundee United were also involved in an enthralling game, as they emerged 3-2 victors against Kilmarnock. Curtis Good and Boyd Rankin won the game for the home side after they had trailed to Kris Boyd's 64th-minute strike.

Elsewhere, Hibernian beat Ross County 2-1, while relegation-threatened Hearts held Inverness Caledonian Thistle to a 0-0 draw.

Results in full: St Mirren 0-1 Aberdeen, Dundee United 3-2 Kilmarnock, Hibernian 2-1 Ross County, Inverness CT 0-0 Hearts, Motherwell 4-3 Partick Thistle