Dundee finally ended their wait for a home win in the Scottish Premier League with a 1-0 victory against Hearts. Matt Lockwood's 20th-minute free-kick was enough to separate the sides as Dundee collected three points as hosts at the sixth time of asking.

The Motherwell manager, Stuart McCall, praised his players' character after they bounced back from four consecutive defeats in style with a 3-1 victory at St Johnstone. Jamie Murphy ended Motherwell's four-game run without a goal when he scored inside 40 seconds of the start after Henrik Ojamaa's shot was blocked.

Murphy, playing in a central role off the strikers in the first half, doubled the lead in the 38th minute with a 20-yard strike and Nicky Law burst through to score a third with a chip over the onrushing Alan Mannus in the 73rd minute. A late goal from the Saints substitute David Robertson could not take the shine off the win for McCall.

"We have lost three SPL games and the cup game and not scored, and confidence is a massive thing in football," McCall said. "We have tried to reiterate all week that you don't become a bad team overnight."

Ross County registered a win over Aberdeen for the first time in the top flight.

A Mark Reynolds own goal from a Richard Brittain free-kick gave County the lead 10 minutes from the break and a goal from Steven Ross early in the second half doubled the home side's advantage.

The Dons got a consolation when Niall McGinn knocked in his sixth goal in consecutive league games to break a 20-year record for the club with 14 minutes remaining. But despite constant pressure from the visitors County held out to win the contest 2-1.

The Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cameron Bell spoiled an impressive performance by being sent off as Inverness emerged with a hard-earned 2-1 victory at Rugby Park. Bell saved a penalty from Graeme Shinnie just before half-time when the visitors were leading through his brother Andrew Shinnie's 22nd-minute effort.

The Killie midfielder Liam Kelly levelled in the 56th minute with a drive from distance but when the impressive Bell was sent off for a foul on Ross Draper, it allowed Billy McKay to convert the penalty past the substitute goalkeeper Kyle Letheren. Rangers beat Alloa 7-0 in the Scottish Cup. Dean Shiels, Lee McCulloch and Barrie McKay scored two goals each and Robbie Crawford was also on the score sheet for Rangers.