It's been a long day in Scottish football and it ends as we were at the top - with Celtic three points clear of Rangers in the Premiership.

Next up, we have Scotland's two leading sides in Europa League action on Thursday, when Neil Lennon takes Celtic to France to face Rennes and Steven Gerrard's Rangers host Feynoord as the group stage begins.

Oh, and don't forget the intriguing Wednesday Challenge Cup third-round tie between Ballymena United and Rangers Colts!

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St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin can't believe his side's 2-1 defeat away to Ross County.

"I just felt it was a game we shouldn't have lost," he tells BBC Scotland. "We were the better team by a mile in the first half. We were well on top.

"We shouldn't have lost the game. It's as simple as that."

The pressure is mounting on Hearts' Craig Levein and Hibs counterpart Paul Heckingbottom ahead of next Sunday's Edinburgh derby - and they both know it.

After today's 3-2 defeat by Motherwell left his side at the foot of the Premiership, Levein said: "We need to get over that, we need to go down to Easter Road next week and put on a good performance."

Heckingbottom also needs results, with his side only two points better off than their city foes after being beaten 2-0 away to Kilmarnock.

"There are no hiding places or excuses in the Edinburgh derby," he said. "Myself and the staff are going to learn a hell of a lot about the players in games like that."

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Hearts manager Craig Levein says his players are feeling the pressure after Motherwell kept them without a league win this season and bottom of the table.

Angry fans gathered to call for his dismissal after today's defeat, with a massive Edinburgh derby against struggling rivals Hibernian looming next Sunday.

"Sometimes the pressure gets to people in different ways," Levein told BBC Scotland. "One of the ways is they don’t show for the ball as often as they should do, which then leaves the player on the ball with less options."

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Lawrence Shankland has scored 10 times in 10 games since leaving Ayr for Dundee United this summer, but that's two games in a row he has failed to find the net.

Indeed, Ayr manager Ian McCall says the striker's move was motivation behind his side's 2-0 win over the Championship leaders.

"The players were very up for it because there were comments from Dundee United when Lawrence went up there that he would get better coaching," he tells BBC Scotland. "They can feel free to send him down for a week and we'll get him coached properly again.

"At times, we outplayed United and they couldn't get near us. They have one main player and we nullified him pretty comfortably. Some of our football was a joy to watch."

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Hibs head coach Paul Heckingbottom tells BBC Radio Scotland: "The disappointing thing is we controlled the game but got beat 2-0 from two shots on target.

"That’s not to say we deserved to win the game, you get what you deserve.

"They are a good defensive side, but the goals we conceded were terrible on our part. We’re going to have to work like mad on the training ground.

"We pass the ball because it’s our style, but we don’t do it at the expense of results. So we may have to pick a more hardened team who make fewer errors."

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Cove Rangers continue their relentless domination of League Two as the Highland League champions won 4-2 against Brechin, with all six goals coming in the first half at Glebe Park.

Edinburgh City remain three points behind with a 4-0 win at home to Annan.

Cowdenbeath are a further point behind after an equally impressive win away to Stenhousemuir.

Queen's Park slip seven points behind Cove after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Albion Rovers.

Sportsound has passed the ball to Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan, who are on BBC Radio Scotland with the post-match edition of Off The Ball.

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Former Scotland striker David Goodwillie is the talk of League One after thumping five goals - three of them penalties - as Clyde took advantage of Sean Cummings being sent off to hammer Stranraer 6-1 in Cumbernauld.

However, it is East Fife who continue as surprise leaders after a 3-1 win away to Montrose, who have gone from promotion candidates of last season to being three points adrift at the foot of the table.

Raith Rovers stay two points behind their Fife rivals after easing to a 4-0 win at home to Peterhead, with Falkirk a further point behind after beating Forfar 3-0.

Dumbarton lost ground after losing 1-0 at home to Airdrieonians.

Allan Preston
BBC Scotland summariser on Sportsound

Ayr's fine 2-0 win over leaders and pre-season favourites Dundee United's brings Ian McCall's side level with the visitors at the top of the table.

Inverness CT are two points behind in third thanks to Sean Welsh's late penalty away to Dunfermline.

That defeat leaves the Pars at the foot of the table, behind Partick Thistle on goal difference.

Dundee edged out in-form Alloa to join Arbroath four points behind the leaders.

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Kilmarnock manager Angelo Alessio on BBC Radio Scotland: "We are happy because we deserved the win. I saw my team play very well in the second-half.

"We both had opportunities in the first-half, but I said to the players to keep going and be more aggressive in the second-half and try to counter attack.

"I want to thank my staff because every week we work together for this."

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Allan Preston
BBC Scotland summariser on Sportsound

Journalist Graham Spiers has tweeted a video of a sizeable number of Hearts fans gathering outside the main stand after today's defeat - and they are making clear their feelings about the club's poor form.

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson on BBC Radio Scotland: "We should have made it easier on ourselves as we had more chances, but it was a terrific performance.

"I thought to a man they were very good, but our two central defenders were excellent.

"Declan Gallagher must be very close to a Scotland call-up and he just keeps getting better.

"We are not going to get carried away and just try to keep building and developing."

Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson on BBC Radio Scotland: "The character of our team was fantastic to score so late and win the game.

"It is a good way to win the game and a lot of the games are going to be like that this season.

"We did not get carried away by losing the last game and we won't get carried away with this win.

"We are trying to get a culture here where we keep going until the final whistle and Marcus is our captain and played a captain's role with the goal."

Derek Ferguson
Former Rangers and Hamilton midfielder on Sportsound

Rob Maclean
BBC Scotland

Scottish Championship

Ayr United 2-0 Dundee United

Dundee 2-1 Alloa Athletic

Dunfermline Athletic 0-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Queen of the South 1-0 Greenock Morton

Scottish League One

Clyde 6-1 Stranraer

Dumbarton 0-1 Airdrieonians

Falkirk 3-0 Forfar Athletic

Montrose 1-3 East Fife

Raith Rovers 4-0 Peterhead

Scottish League Two

Brechin City 2-4 Cove Rangers

Edinburgh City 4-0 Annan Athletic

Queen's Park 1-1 Albion Rovers

Stenhousemuir 0-3 Cowdenbeath

Stirling Albion 1-0 Elgin City