Real Scottish People's League Week 22
The first Real SPL round of the new year saw St Johnstone frustrated in their attempt to reel in leaders Motherwell due to their match at Inverness being snowed off.
Hearts moved ahead of the Perth Saints and into second place in the RSPL following a 3-1 victory in the Edinburgh derby. The first half saw little football of interest barring a Templeton shot that grazed the post, but was livened up when a slack backpass saw Hibs keeper Graham Stack give away a penalty which he subsequently saved around five minutes before the break.
The second half was a far livlier affair, and one which Hearts deservedly won due to their superiority all over the park. The result means the Gorgie team are now Motherwell's closest challengers for the title and leaves Hibs perilously close to relegation unless new boss Pat Fenlon can somehow turn things around with what is unquestionably a very poor-quality squad.
Away from the capital, the other RSPL movers today were Aberdeen who came back from a goal down to beat Dundee Utd 2-1 at Tannadice and move them up to fifth place. The Dons' hero was Kari Arnason, whose long throw set up Mo Chalali for the equaliser to Jon Daly's opener, then blasted in an even longer shot with only minutes to go to leave the massive away support delighted.
The Dons move above St Mirren who lost 2-1 at Kilmarnock despite taking the lead. Killie's three points help move the Ayrshire club further from the relegation battle at the bottom.
Week 22 Results:
Monday January 2nd, 2012
Dundee Utd 1-2 Aberdeen
Hibernian 1-3 Hearts
Inverness Caley Thistle P-P St Johnstone
Kilmarnock 2-1 St Mirren
Week 22 Table:
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Motherwell | 16 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 8 | +11 | 34 |
| 2 | Hearts | 18 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | +11 | 28 |
| 3 | St Johnstone | 17 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 5 | +9 | 28 |
| 4 | Dundee Utd | 18 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 15 | +4 | 26 |
| 5 | Aberdeen | 18 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 14 | +1 | 24 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 18 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 22 |
| 7 | Kilmarnock | 17 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | -2 | 22 |
| 8 | Inverness CT | 17 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 19 |
| 9 | Hibernian | 17 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 17 | -12 | 14 |
| 10 | Dunfermline | 16 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | -17 | 14 |