Terry Butcher was delighted with Inverness's second-half showing after they ran out 3-0 home winners over Aberdeen.

Following a goalless first half, Inverness hit their stride in the second half with Andrew Shinnie opening the scoring with a spectacular effort after 53 minutes, before Billy McKay struck twice to take his tally for the season to 20 goals. The result moves Caley Thistle three points clear of third-placed Motherwell and Butcher praised his side, who have now lost one of their past 21 fixtures in all competitions. He said: "We played well in the second half. When the game opened up we had players able to exploit the space. The front four worked well together, but up until we got the goals the game was pretty even."

Dundee United showed no ill effects from news of manager Peter Houston's planned departure, with Johnny Russell striking a hat-trick as they won 3-2 to complete a deserved comeback at Rugby Park. Manuel Pascali gave Kilmarnock the lead against the run of play but Russell rewarded United's first-half dominance with an excellent finish two minutes before the break. The goal originated from Keith Watson and Russell headed United in front from the same source before completing his treble two minutes from time to move his side above Kilmarnock into seventh place.

Ross County moved 12 points clear of danger at the foot of the SPL table with an impressive 4-1 victory over St Mirren. Richard Brittain fired the visitors ahead with an excellent 25-yard free-kick and the Highland side passed up numerous opportunities to extend their advantage during the first half.

St Mirren were rewarded for a good start to the second period when Steven Thompson's shot beat Mark Brown from just inside the area, but it was to be the highlight of the afternoon for Danny Lennon's side. Sam Morrow took advantage of a horrific defensive error by David Barron to restore County's lead and Ivan Sproule marked an excellent debut with a goal four minutes later. Sproule tapped home a fourth and a miserable day for St Mirren was rounded off when Lewis Guy's penalty was saved by Brown in injury time.

Leigh Griffiths's goal earned Hibernian a point against Dundee. John Baird gave the visitors - now 11 points adrift at the foot of the table - an eighth-minute lead at Easter Road before Griffiths netted four minutes into the second half to earn Pat Fenlon's men a draw.