Scotland round-up: Boost for Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock FC improved their chances of UEFA Cup qualification with a 1-0 Scottish Premier League win against Partick Thistle FC on a weekend dominated by cup fixtures.

Canero winner
Scottish Under-21 international Pater Canero scored on the stroke of half-time to take Kilmarnock up to fourth, four points behind third-placed Heart of Midlothian FC with ten games remaining.

Tough tie
In the Scottish Cup fourth round, shocks were few and far between as no Premier League sides lost to lower-division opponents. Holders Rangers FC were given a tough game by first-division Ayr United FC, but Ronald de Boer scored with eleven minutes to go to take the Glaswegians into the quarter-finals.

Comfortable Celtic
Celtic FC, beaten by Rangers in last season's final, had a more comfortable task as they won 3-0 at home to Saint Johnstone FC. John Hartson converted penalties on 32 and 86 minutes for the UEFA Cup contenders, with Jamie Smith having scored his first goal of the season in the 77th minute to knock out the side lying second in the first division.

Dundee end jinx
In the two all-Premier League ties, Dundee FC beat Aberdeen FC 2-0, their first home win against the northern club since 1996, and Hibernian FC secured a 1-1 draw at Dunfermline Athletic FC. Motherwell FC triumphed 2-0 at Clyde FC to join the other quarter-finalists, who include first division sides Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and Falkirk FC, along with sole second division survivors Stranraer FC.