Celtic and Rangers drop points on dramatic Premiership day with red cards and VAR as Hearts watch on with glee

After league leaders Hearts defeated Falkirk 1-0 at Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon to move five points clear, it was over to the Old Firm to maintain their chase 24 hours later, with second-placed Rangers away at Livingston and third-placed Celtic at home to Hibs. However, neither could grab a win, with Rangers drawing 2-2 to bottom-side Livingston, while Celtic were defeated 2-1 by Hibs.

Hearts are now four points clear Rangers, with both teams having ten matches remaining. Celtic are a further two points adrift but have a game in hand on the two teams above them.

Rangers had breathed new life into their title charge last weekend by overcoming Hearts 4-2 at Ibrox and were expected to kick on against Livingston, who started the day nine points adrift at the bottom of the table, with their last victory coming way back in August. However, the points were shared in a dramatic match.

Livingston edged ahead on 14 minutes through Brooklyn Kabongolo and then doubled their advantage on 55 minutes when Lewis Smith netted. But the hosts’ cause was not helped when Cristian Montano was sent off on the hour mark for denying a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Rangers pushed hard for goals and broke Livi resistance on 81 minutes through Emmanuel Fernandez and then Mikey Moore levelled on 88 minutes. The visitors claimed hard for a penalty deep into stoppage time but after a VAR review, the original on-field decision stood.

It was even worse for the defending champions Celtic at home to Hibs, with Martin O’Neill men losing to the Easter Road side at home. The visitors took the lead on 24 minutes through wing-back Felix Passlack, with Celtic levelling just before the break via Benjamin Nygren.

Celtic pushed for another goal but suffered a major setback on 74 minutes when centre-half Auston Trusty was sent off for striking Hibs midfielder Jamie McGrath following a VAR review. With a man advantage, Hibs grew back into the match and landed a winner on 88 minutes when substitute Kai Andrews fired home from the edge of the penalty box to secure their first victory in the east end of Glasgow for 16 years.

Rangers and Celtic meet each other next Sunday in the third Old Firm match of the season at Ibrox, by which point they could be further behind Hearts, who play Aberdeen at Tynecastle on Saturday.