Celtic took another significant step towards the Ladbrokes Premiership title … but the reigning Scottish champions left it late at Rugby Park.

Scott Brown's last gasp winner against Kilmarnock sparked jubilant, boisterous scenes which culminated with the Celtic skipper being sent off for his wild celebrations.

The victory took Brendan Rodgers' team eight points clear at the top of the table as they continued to stamp their authority on the domestic scene.

Not everybody was in a carnival mood, of course, and Steve Clarke, the Kilmarnock manager, expressed his concerns for his players after Celtic fans spilled on to the pitch to celebrate Brown's winner.

Callum McGregor hailed Celtic's battling qualities as they ground out a win in the last knockings. "It just shows the character of this lot," he said.

The officials were getting it in the neck again as Killie keeper Daniel Bachmann bemoaned the sending off of Kirk Broadfoot in a lively tussle. 

Bachmann, on loan from Watford, insists it's not the first time the big decisions have gone against Kilmarnock when they play the "big sides". 

Rangers, meanwhile, were left with plenty to ponder after putting in a listless performance in a 0-0 stalemate with St Johnstone which had Steven Gerrard effectively writing off the Ibrox club's title hopes.

Along the M8, Paul Heckingbottom's tenure at Hibs got off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Hamilton.

Motherwell kept their sizzling run going with a late 2-1 win over Hearts. Jake Hastie was on the mark again as the Steelmen made it six wins in a row and Stephen Robinson, the Motherwell manager, has urged the talented teenager to extend his contract at Fir Park

"We haven’t got any more money to offer Jake,” Robinson said. "It is as simple as that and we will offer him what we can."