Aberdeen have moved back level on points with leaders Celtic following their 3-0 win over struggling St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
Adam Rooney netted either side of half time and Mark Reynolds added a header just after the hour mark to keep up the pressure on the Hoops, who have two matches in hand.
At the other end of the table, Motherwell's relegation fears have intensified following their 1-0 loss at home to Dundee, which came courtesy of Paul McGinn's first-half goal.
Ross County leapfrogged Ian Baraclough's side, and St Mirren, with a 3-1 win at Partick Thistle, where Craig Curran and Raffaele De Vita were on target for the visitors before Lyle Taylor netted a consolation for the hosts, leaving it to Marcus Fraser to make the game safe.
Third-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle were involved in a six-goal thriller with Kilmarnock, a close game which ended 3-3 after Tope Obadeyi drew the away side level in the second period.
Dundee United are in fourth place, slipping off the pace following their 2-0 home defeat to St Johnstone, who took maximum points thanks to Michael O'Halloran's first-half double.
Leaders Celtic are in action on Sunday when they play host to Hamilton Academical.
Results in full: Aberdeen 3-0 St Mirren, Dundee Utd 0-2 St Johnstone, Inverness 3-3 Kilmarnock, Motherwell 0-1 Dundee, Partick Thistle 1-3 Ross County
Mark Langshaw
