Rangers slump continues with Ross draw

Rangers' English manager Mark Warburton can expect little sympathy from the Scottish press -- who he had labelled as negative after the criticism he and the team got following the drubbing by Celtic -- after a woeful performance at home to Ross County.

The hosts -- shorn of colourful English midfielder Barton after he clashed with a team-mate in training -- showed some life in the second-half.

However, Ross County goalkeeper Scott Fox denied Martyn Waghorn, then Clint Hill had a header cleared off the line, and a fierce strike by substitute Michael O'Halloran hit the crossbar.

The draw sees Rangers drop to fourth in the table, three points adrift of Celtic, who have played two games less.

Hearts missed the chance to go top -- Celtic play Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday -- as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat away at St Johnstone, leaving them two points behind the leaders.

Hearts were constantly frustrated by Saints goalkeeper Zander Clark before the hosts claimed the three points through Graham Cummins. 

The players touchingly celebrated by holding up the number two shirt which had been worn by skipper Dave Mackay, who had to hang up his boots earlier in the week because of a career-ending injury. 

English striker Louis Moult, 24, scored all four goals in Motherwell's 4-2 win over Hamilton Academicals, ending a winless streak of six.

Moult scored his hat-trick in 13 first-half minutes and added a fourth from the penalty spot early in the second period, manager Mark McGhee stepping in to tell him to take it after he had offered the ball to a team-mate to take.    

The day's other match saw Partick Thistle come back twice to force a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock.