Paatelainen pair puts Hibs top

Two goals from Hibernian's Finnish striker Mixu Paatelainen were enough to beat Motherwell at Easter Road and lift the Edinburgh side back to the top of the Scottish Premier, if only until Celtic's match on Monday night.

Two goals from Hibernian's Finnish striker Mixu Paatelainen were enough to beat Motherwell at Easter Road and lift the Edinburgh side back to the top of the Scottish Premier, if only until Celtic's match on Monday night.

Hibs took the lead when Andy Goram found Frank Sauzee's 25-yard shot too hot to hold. Russell Latapy was first to the rebound and his effort was steered in by Paatelainen. Hibs had already seen two penalty claims denied for fouls on Dirk Lehmann and Motherwell had Don Goodman's goal ruled out for offside. However, Paatelainen's second goal, in the 80th minute, ended doubts about the destiny of the three points.

Elsewhere, Ally Mitchell's 26th-minute goal was enough for fourth-placed Kilmarnock to beat Aberdeen 1-0 and the two other Premier matches, between the bottom two, Dundee United and St. Mirren, and Dundee's trip to St Johnstone, ended goalless.

In the English Nationwide First Division, not much seems to have changed for Sheffield Wednesday since relegation from the Premiership in May. They lost for the third time in eight days, 2-0 at Tranmere Rovers, Scott Taylor scoring twice, and now seem in danger of going into freefall straight through the division.

Wednesday, playing in an old Rovers away kit because the referee ruled that there was a colour clash, fell behind in the 15th minute when Paul Rideout's cross to the far post was headed back by Wayne Allison for Taylor's right-foot shot. His second came on the whistle.

Second-placed Watford's unbeaten start to the season continued after a 3-0 defeat of Crewe Alexandra at Vicarage Road. Midway through the first-half, Gifton Noel-Williams forced a good save out of Jason Kearton in the Crewe goal but the resulting corner was only half-cleared to Tom Mooney. His low cross was turned in by Smith. Second-half goals by Noel-Williams, after Crewe's defenders dithered, and a fierce Micah Hyde drive reflected Watford's dominance.

Bolton Wanderers continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 win over Portsmouth at the Reebok Stadium. Pompey's packed midfield frustrated Bolton until three minutes before the break when Dean Holdsworth, who had missed a couple of earlier chances, chested the ball down and made space in the box to rifle the ball home from 10 yards for his third goal of the season. Michael Ricketts added the second, continuing his habit of coming off the substitutes' bench to score.

A mixed day for Stockport County's Ian Moore. He put them ahead after 98 seconds at Preston North End, who soon equalised through Paul McKenna, but was sent off after his second booking six minutes from the end.

Huddersfield's start to the season went from indifferent to dire as they lost 2-1 to Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium, to go bottom. Goals by Guy Butters and Paul Smith overturned Kevin Gallen's opener.

Grimsby Town's start has been poor, too, but a 1-1 draw at promoted Burnley lifted them out of the bottom three. Danny Butterfield's 25-yard right-foot drive put the Mariners ahead; Andrew Cooke's near-post header from Paul Cook's corner levelled after 18 minutes.

Barnsley, after three consecutive away defeats, returned to Oakwell for their third home win of the season, beating Queen's Park Rangers 4-2. The Tykes raced into a 3-0 first-half lead but two Chris Kiwomya goals got Rangers back in the match. A Bruce Dyer goal two minutes from the end settled Yorkshire nerves. Elsewhere, Norwich City drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace.

In the Second Division, the leaders Walsall were held 1-1 at home by Bournemouth while the division's only unbeaten side, Bristol Rovers, maintained their status with a goalless draw with Wigan Athletic. Oxford United are still bottom but won their first match of the season; Jamie Cook's goal was enough to beat Bury.

A 4-0 home win over Mansfield kept Chesterfield top of the Third Division; third-placed Cardiff are the section's only surviving unbeaten side after a 2-0 win at Scunthorpe.