Dons cling to sixth spot hope while troubled Gretna go down

CHRIS MAGUIRE'S injury-time winner in the Dons 4-3 win against ten-man Inverness kept alive Aberdeen's hopes of finishing in the top half of the table.

With just one game to go until the split, Falkirk currently occupy sixth place in the table, a point ahead of Aberdeen and Hearts.

The Edinburgh club face Kilmarnock on Saturday knowing they have a far better goal difference than Aberdeen, but if Hearts fail to take maximum points, the Dons will be waiting to pounce on the slip-up.

Aberdeen took an early lead when Sone Aluko fired in from the edge of the penalty area, but Inverness bounced back through a Dave Bus own goal and Russell Duncan's fine 25-yard-drive.

Barry Nicholson made it 2-2 just before the break, but Aberdeen went ahead shortly after the restart when former Hearts player Lee Miller nodded in. Roy McBain made it 3-3 before Maguire pounced at the death.

At Love Street, St Mirren condemned Gretna to Division 1 football next season – at best – with a 2-0 win. Goals from Craig Dargo and Billy Mehmet were enough to confirm the crisis-hit side's long-threatened relegation.