Rangers narrow the gap

KYLE LAFFERTY grabbed the only goal of the game as Rangers avenged last month’s defeat by Hearts with a 1-0 win over the Edinburgh side in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Ibrox.

Lafferty pounced in the opening minutes before El-Hadji Diouf was handed an earlier than anticipated debut following his transfer deadline-day move.

The win allowed Rangers to move to within five points of SPL leaders Celtic, with two games in hands over their rivals. New signings Diouf, David Healy and Kyle Bartley were all named on the bench for Rangers.

David Silva’s late header against Motherwell gave Kilmarnock all three points at Fir Park which only came to the boil in the final stages.

In the 81st minute Killie defender Tim Clancy sent in a great cross from the right which allowed Silva, on for Willy Aubameyang with less than 20 minutes remaining, to score the winner from close range.

Derek Riordan and David Wotherspoon ended Hibernian’s search for a first goal of 2011 and a first win since November as their second-half strikes secured a valuable win over St Mirren.

Riordan’s 63rd-minute strike was Hibs’ first goal since the 2-2 draw with Dundee United on December 29 and Wotherspoon added a second in stoppage time to end a 12-match winless run.