Scottish roundup: Ryan Jack’s late equaliser saves a point for Aberdeen

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/17/aberdeen-dundee-st-johnstone-scottish-premiership

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Ryan Jack scored a late equaliser as Aberdeen avoided defeat against a spirited Dundee, but, with Celtic winning at Hamilton, their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership was reduced to two points.

The Dons had looked comfortable after David Goodwillie’s early strike put them in front at Pittodrie, but goals from Gary Irvine and Greg Stewart had Dundee in front by half-time.

Gary Harkins added a third soon after the interval, but Aberdeen were handed a late lifeline through Jonny Hayes’s penalty. Jack sealed a share of the points when he prodded home, deep in injury time to secure a 3-3 draw.

Stephen Mallan headed home a late winner for 10-man St Mirren at Ross County, to move the Paisley side off the foot of the table with a 2-1 win. Sean Kelly gave St Mirren an early lead, but Yoann Arquin, making his debut against his former club, was sent off eight minutes before the break.

The substitute Liam Boyce looked to have rescued a point for County when he headed in with eight minutes remaining, but – against the odds – Mallan grabbed a vital second goal for the visitors.

St Johnstone strengthened their position inside the top six after a goal at the start of each half earned them a 2-0 win over Partick Thistle at McDiarmid Park. Their captain, Dave Mackay, gave Tommy Wright’s side a fourth-minute lead with a deflected effort, from 18 yards out, that was unlucky on Paul Gallacher in the Thistle goal. Another defender, Steven Anderson headed home in the 49th minute to seal the home side’s seventh win in nine matches.

Ryan Stevenson hit the bar and Nathan Eccleston had a shot cleared off the goalline, but the ninth-placed visitors were unable to find a goal. Thistle have one victory from their past seven games.

In the Championship, Hibs beat Cowdenbeath 5-0 at Easter Road, with five different players finding the net. Paul Hanlon scored the first after nine minutes and Jason Cummings added a second before half-time. Scott Robertson, Callum Booth and Lewis Stevenson added to Hibs’ tally in the second half. Hibs sit in third place and six points behind Rangers.