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Rangers claimed the first silverware of the season as they defeated Aberdeen 1-0 in Sunday\u2019s Viaplay Cup final at Hampden.<\/p>\n
It was also a good weekend for Philippe Clement\u2019s side in the cinch Premiership title race as city rivals Celtic slumped to consecutive league defeats for the first time in a decade.<\/p>\n
Hearts moved up to third after their first league win at Celtic Park since 2007 and there were narrow victories for Dundee and St Johnstone.<\/p>\n
Here, the PA news agency looks at five things we learned from this weekend\u2019s action.<\/p>\n
Rangers looked like they might be taken to extra time by Aberdeen until free-scoring captain James Tavernier popped up with an exquisite finish inside the box to settle the match in the 76th minute. It was the 32-year-old\u2019s 115th goal since joining Gers eight and a half years ago and his 15th goal in 30 matches this term as he continued his remarkable strike-rate.<\/p>\n
There was deep disappointment for Aberdeen as they failed to muster a shot on target in Sunday\u2019s final. However, with their European campaign and League Cup runs now over, the Dons can at least start to focus fully on climbing the Premiership. Currently 10th, they must rouse themselves in time for Wednesday\u2019s match at home to struggling Livinsgton.<\/p>\n
There has been a constant reminder of issues between the board and some Celtic fans in recent weeks with the absence of the banned Green Brigade resulting in a flat atmosphere. The biggest noise on Saturday came with chants of \u201csack the board\u201d and personal attacks on chairman Peter Lawwell, while anger almost spilled over in the main stand. Hearts were well worth their 2-0 win and the deficiencies of Celtic\u2019s summer transfer business were highlighted by the fact that only one of the eight arrivals featured throughout the 90 minutes. With Rangers now five points behind with two games in hand, Celtic need to get their January activity right.<\/p>\n
That was the blunt assessment of Ross County manager Derek Adams, who was clearly stung by Dundee defender Joe Shaughnessy\u2019s winner with the last kick of the ball. Adams returned to Dingwall following eight years in England with Plymouth, Bradford and Morecambe, but he has not been impressed. Adams emphatically burst the game\u2019s bubble days after Scottish clubs saw off Feyenoord, Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Betis in Europe. \u201cThe standard since I\u2019ve come back to this country is shocking,\u201d Adams said. \u201cI\u2019ve left a club that is 100 times better and we had the lowest budget in League Two. I just see some of the things that happened and think, \u2018Seriously?\u2019 I don\u2019t see any entertainment. If this is the best we\u2019ve got in the country, what are we going to do?\u201d Time will tell whether his comments gee up his own players or opposition teams.<\/p>\n
Motherwell skipper Liam Kelly came under fire after taking responsibility for the concession of goals against County and St Johnstone inside four days but he rewarded manager Stuart Kettlewell\u2019s ongoing faith by saving a penalty in a goalless draw with St Mirren. It was the goalkeeper\u2019s second spot-kick save in five games.<\/p>\n