GLASGOW (AFP) - Aberdeen striker Steve Lovell found the winning formula against Hearts again as he clinched a 1-0 victory that kept his side in the race for second place.

Lovell scored the winner when the sides last met in December and he got the decisive goal after seven minutes at Pittodrie to move Aberdeen within four points of second-placed Rangers.

Barry Nicholson's pass gave Lovell the chance to surge into the area and he drove a fierce shot past Craig Gordon.

Hearts, with sporting director Anatoly Korobochka in charge as interim head coach while Valdas Ivanauskas is away on "football business", could have gone third with a win.

But Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston, on loan from Terek Grozny, was dismissed midway through the second half for two yellow cards and the Edinburgh side never threatened to come back.

Moroccan striker Abdessalam Benjelloun scored twice as Hibernian beat 10-man Falkirk 2-0 at Easter Road.

Dean Holden was sent off just before half-time when his sliding tackle on Merouane Zemmama was deemed worthy of a red card.

John Hughes's side had lost their previous seven matches and after Holden's dismissal it was no surprise when they fell behind to Benjelloun's 52nd minute strike.

Benjelloun put the result beyond doubt in the 74th minute when he converted Michael Stewart's pass. Motherwell held on for a 1-1 draw at Dundee United despite a late red card for defender Paul Quinn.

Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith gifted the hosts the opening goal when he spilled Jon Daly's 29th minute header, allowing United midfielder Steven Robb to net his first goal for the club.

But Maurice Malpas's side hit back quickly and defender Danny Murphy equalised in the 37th minute with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.

Quinn was sent off in the closing minutes for a second booking before Motherwell's Scott McDonald had a goal ruled out for offside. Paul Di Giacomo's double strike helped Kilmarnock to a 3-2 home win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Markus Paatelainen gave Inverness the lead after 10 minutes at Rugby Park when he headed in Richard Hastings' cross, only for Di Giacomo to bring Kilmarnock back onto level terms seven minutes later with a tap-in from Peter Leven's long throw.

Giacomo had scored just four times all season, but he was in clinical form against Iverness and slammed in his second off the crossbar in the 27th minute.

His strike partner Steven Naismith has been far more prolific and he put Jim Jefferies' side further in front with an overhead kick to claim his 16th goal of the season in the 45th minute.

Darren Dods reduced the deficit with a close range header three minutes after half-time but the League Cup finalists held on and moved closer to a top six finish.

Dunfermline looked destined for relegation after being held to a goal-less draw against fellow strugglers St Mirren at East End Park.

Stephen Kenny's rock bottom side dominated for long periods but were unable to make the breakthrough and remain nine points adrift of second bottom St Mirren.

Leaders Celtic can move closer to the title with a win over Glasgow rivals Rangers at Parkhead on Sunday.