That's all from me. There will be more reaction to today's game on the BBC Sport website and app throughout the evening and there will be highlights on Sportscene on BBC Scotland and iPlayer from 19:30 GMT.
FT: Hearts 1-0 Motherwell
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Scotland: "For me, 1-0 flattered us.
"I've just asked [the players] why that was the case. We come to another fantastic venue with a great atmosphere, you're sitting in a decent spot in the league and our form has been relatively good.
"I'll always take ownership for team selection and style of play. But what the players give me every week is good energy and a basic application to the cause, which we need at Motherwell to bridge the gap we have financially to the vast majority of other teams.
"We do that time and again but for some reason we didn't today. We've asked the group to take responsibility for it because we go again in a couple of days. There's no time to rest and settle, we need to take ownership for a really poor performance today."
Image source, SNSFT: St Johnstone 1-1 Hibernian
It ended all square at McDiarmid Park, the only Scottish Premiership draw so far in 2025.
Dwight Gayle (pictured left) scored Hibernian's second-half leveller after Nicky Clark's penalty during the opening period, which followed Jason Holt's red card for the hosts.
Image source, SNSFT: Aberdeen 1-2 Ross County
Ross County took all three points in challenging conditions at Pittodrie with Noah Chilvers (number 10) scoring the winner.
Image source, SNSFT: Kilmarnock 2-0 St Mirren
It was all about Bruce Anderson at Rugby Park today with the Kilmarnock striker scoring twice against St Mirren.
Image source, SNSAberdeen, in third, are now five points behind Rangers with leaders Celtic 11 points clear at the top.
Dundee United can draw level with the Dons if they win away to Dundee later.
St Mirren and Motherwell remain fifth and sixth, respectively, after losing today. Both are on 27 points - four off United as things stand.
Hibernian move a point closer to the top six with their draw at St Johnstone. Two points separate David Gray's side from St Mirren and Well.
Kilmarnock have moved to within a point of Hibs and Dundee (ninth) can go level with the Easter Road side with victory over United later.
Ross County's win at Aberdeen keeps the Staggies two points above second bottom Hearts and Don Cowie's side are seven points clear of bottom side St Johnstone, who have also lost ground on Hearts.
Come close of play today, Celtic and Rangers will have two games in hand while both Dundee clubs and Aberdeen and Motherwell will have one game in hand.
Five of today's Scottish Premiership games are done and dusted and here's what it means for the standings...
Ross County make it two away Scottish Premiership wins in a row and Aberdeen are nine without a win, having lost their past four.
Akil Wright and Noah Chilvers with the County goals, Kevin Nisbet scoring Aberdeen's first-half equaliser with a free-kick.
The Wright goal is well worth a watch on Sportscene later.
Image source, SNSRoss County twice led at Aberdeen and the second time, it stuck
Aberdeen 1-2 Ross County
Topi Keskinen hares down the left, cuts to the bye-line and fires into the middle, where Kevin Nisbet knocks over the bar.
Aberdeen are peppering the Ross County goal but to no avail.
FT: Hearts 1-0 Motherwell
Musa Drammeh is the toast of Tynecastle today after scoring Hearts' solitary goal against Motherwell.
Image source, SNSAberdeen 1-2 Ross County
Aberdeen go close again!
Shayden Morris bursts down the right and clips in a great cross.
Kevin Nisbet tries to guide his effort into the corner, but he heads wide instead.
Aberdeen 1-2 Ross County
That might have been the chance for Aberdeen, and it fell to substitute striker Peter Ambrose.
A hopeful free-kick dropped kindly to the Nigerian striker, but he skied over from just outside the six-yard box.
Up the other end there's a chance for Ross County to finish it as Ronan Hale races in behind, but he lifts it way over the bar.
Aberdeen 1-2 Ross County
A few minutes of regulation time still to play at Pittodrie, plus any added time.
It may be 17:00 GMT but it's not over yet.
Of course, there's still one Scottish Premiership game to be played this 2 January - Dundee v Dundee United.
After six minutes of added time at the end, it's a point apiece at McDiarmid Park with Hibernian missing out on five Scottish Premiership wins in a row.
They won't be too down about that, though, having been a goal down at the break through Nicky Clark's penalty. Dwight Gayle made another telling festive contribution with the Hibs leveller.
St Johnstone played most of the game without Jason Holt, who was sent off for a first-half challenge on Chris Cadden, so they too will be pleased with a draw.
Image source, SNSDwight Gayle brought Hibs level
A very satisfactory start to 2025 for Kilmarnock.
Bruce Anderson was the matchwinner with a goal either side of half-time.
Image source, SNSBruce Anderson scored in each half for Kilmarnock
Aberdeen 1-2 Ross County
Duk goes down in the box under a challenge from Nohan Kenneh, David Dickinson blows... for a free-kick!
There is contact, but is it enough to go down? Is it even in the box?
Well, Dickinson clearly thinks it's a dive and he's booked the Dons striker.
Musa Drammeh's early goal gives Hearts a huge win. They should have been out of sight, and in the end have Craig Gordon to thank for maintaining their lead at the end.
The 42-year-old made two superb late saves to deny Motherwell.
What a finish.
Image source, SNSHearts 1-0 Motherwell
Incredible.
Dan Casey heads towards goal and Jack Vale is there to head in. Or so he thought. Craig Gordon reacts superbly to tip it over the bar.
That'll be that!
Kilmarnock 2-0 St Mirren
Killie captain Brad Lyons flashes a shot from the edge of the box just wide.
Killie aren't sitting on this lead.
Musa Drammeh's early goal gave Hearts victory
Neil Critchley says Hearts nearly gave him a "heart attack" as his much-improved but wasteful side eventually held off Motherwell for an important Scottish Premiership victory.
Musa Drammeh profited from loose goalkeeping from Aston Oxborough to open the scoring after seven minutes and give Hearts the lead.
The close-range strike was initially ruled out for a foul on the Motherwell goalkeeper by James Wilson, but referee Calum Scott was sent to the monitor for a review and he overturned the original call after seeing minimal contact from the Hearts striker.
That goal turned out to be the winner but that should not have been the case for Hearts, who were totally dominant but could not find a second despite 17 shots.
That meant a nervy finish at Tynecastle, with memories of Hearts' late collapse against Ross County last time out still fresh.
And in the end goalkeeper Craig Gordon, the villain in Dingwall, pulled off two superb late saves to maintain their lead and ensure a morale-boosting win which moves Hearts five points clear of bottom side St Johnstone.
"I said to the players at the end - 'You're going to give me a heart attack'," Critchley told BBC Scotland.
"I was delighted with the performance until the last little part of the game.
"That was understandable because of the result and situation against Ross County. Probably a bit of nervousness set in.
"The game should have been over really, but Craig [Gordon] has produced two magnificent saves. We deserved that, but he's won us the game at the end."
Motherwell, meanwhile, stay in sixth place after one of their poorer performances this season.
This is as good as Hearts have looked in some time, in particular going forward.
With Lawrence Shankland struggling for form and out with a calf injury for the next few weeks, Boyce played behind Wilson with Spittal and Drammeh either side again.
Drammeh scrambled in the goal and gave Hearts energy and pace down the right, with the consistently excellent Penrice doing likewise down the left.
Boyce and Wilson combined precisely at times, with the former doing everything but score as he chased a first goal since September 2023.
One miss at the near post after a terrific Penrice cross will haunt Boyce, and Jorge Grant's effort off the bar hit him and somehow drifted wide as luck deserted the Northern Irishman too.
He was not the only one guilty of profligacy though, with Jorge Grant, Yan Dhanda, and Kenneth Vargas also missing good chances.
That wastefulness meant it was far from perfect for Hearts, but the intensity was much more like what Critchley wants from his side.
More of this will see them climb the table, but they certainly made it hard for themselves in the end.
Motherwell were hit with the pre-match blow of losing 18-year-old Lennon Miller for up to two months with an ankle injury.
His composure and passing ability was badly missed in midfield as Motherwell struggled to keep the ball, resulting in failure to register a single shot before the break, and one touch in Hearts' box.
Kettlewell's side also looked fatigued having played Celtic and Rangers in the space of three days before this one as Hearts overwhelmed them.
The Motherwell boss made three half-time changes to demonstrate his disgust, but it made little difference until late on when finally the visitors threatened.
Dan Casey should have scored from six yards but headed over, and Jack Vale was certain he had equalised from point-blank range in stoppage time - only for Gordon's heroics to leave the substitute stunned.
Motherwell will put this down as a bad day at the office, but the scale of the drop-off in Miller's absence is a concern.
Hearts head coach Neil Critchley: "I thought we were excellent, had total control of the game, dominated the ball, produced good chances, but our inability to score nearly cost us, and it always puts pressure on your defence because you've got to keep a clean sheet to win the game."
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "For me, 1-0 flattered us. What the players give me every week is good energy and a basic application to the cause.
"We do that time and again but for some reason we didn't today. We've asked the group to take responsibility for it because we go again in a couple of days. There's no time to rest and settle, we need to take ownership for a really poor performance."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 7 | 45 | 50 |
| |
| 2 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 13 | 21 | 39 |
| |
| 3 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 34 |
| |
| 4 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 34 |
| |
| 5 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 27 | 34 | -7 | 27 |
| |
| 6 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 25 | 34 | -9 | 27 |
| |
| 7 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 32 | -4 | 25 |
| |
| 8 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 36 | -11 | 24 |
| |
| 9 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 30 | 36 | -6 | 22 |
| |
| 10 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 38 | -17 | 22 |
| |
| 11 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 31 | -7 | 20 |
| |
| 12 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 23 | 41 | -18 | 15 |
|
Manager: Neil Critchley
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Stuart Kettlewell
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Neil Critchley
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Stuart Kettlewell
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Scottish Premiership
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All competitions
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Heart of Midlothian have won four of their last five home league meetings with Motherwell, losing the other 1-0 in September 2023.
None of Hearts and Motherwell’s last 11 league meetings have been drawn, with the Steelmen winning five and losing six since a 1-1 stalemate in March 2020.
Hearts won their opening Scottish Premiership match in 2022 (2-0 v St. Johnstone), 2023 (3-0 v Hibernian), and 2024 (2-1 v Livingston).
Motherwell haven’t won their opening league game of a calendar year since 2020 (1-0 v Aberdeen), failing in four years since (D2 L2).
Heart of Midlothian’s Lawrence Shankland has been directly involved in eight goals in his last eight league appearances against Motherwell, scoring six and assisting two.
