Rangers FC

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• Manager:Walter Smith

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Novo sends Gers nine clear

16 Jan 2010 - 17:07:24

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Celtic slipped nine points off the pace at the top of the SPL table after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to basement side Falkirk.

The Bairns took a shock lead after 19 minutes when Carl Finnigan beat Darren O'Dea and placed his shot beyond Bhoys keeper Artur Boruc.

The home side drew level shortly before half-time when Georgios Samaras latched on to a Marc Crosas pass and beat visiting keeper Robert Olejnik, but Tony Mowbray's men were unable to find a winner after the restart.

Earlier in the day leaders Rangers edged to a 1-0 victory at Hamilton Academical to keep up the pace at the top of the table.

The only goal of the game at New Douglas Park came 12 minutes from time when Nacho Novo tucked home the rebound after home keeper Tomas Cerny had parried substitute John Fleck's initial effort.

Jimmy Calderwood's first game in charge of Kilmarnock ended in a 3-0 home defeat by Motherwell, with Jim O'Brien (2) and Lukas Jutkiewicz the goalscorers.

A Michael Stewart penalty earned Hearts a 1-0 win at home to St Mirren, while Danny Swanson netted the only goal of the game as Dundee United edged out Hibernian 1-0 at Tannadice.

The meeting between St Johnstone and Aberdeen at McDiarmid Park was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.