Hat-trick Flo silences critics

Tore Andre Flo silenced the critics who have derided the £12m spent on his unorthodox talents with a hat-trick at Tannadice last night as Rangers destroyed Dundee United 6–1 in the Scottish Premier League.

The Norwegian took his haul for the season to nine, with Ronald de Boer – another who has failed to live up to his reputation – also scoring as Dick Advocaat's team prepared for a crucial week.

On Thursday, they go to Warsaw to play their delayed Uefa Cup first-round tie against Anzhi Makhachkala of Russia in a one-off fixture, before then facing up to champions Celtic at Ibrox in next Sunday's first Old Firm encounter of the season.

Rangers went ahead after just 95 seconds when Flo's cutback teased an own goal out of Jamie Buchan, and although Jim McIntyre equalised when he met David Partridge's cross in 33 minutes, United were swamped after the interval.

Flo made it 2–1 when he pounced after de Boer's shot came off the post in the 49th minute, the Dutchman then clipped in the third before Flo stabbed in Bert Konterman's cross to make it 4–1. An angled shot sealed his hat-trick and Neil McCann completed the rout in stoppage time.

Livingston, the pre-season favourites to return to Division One, are proudly sitting in third place following their fine 2–1 win away to Dunfermline Athletic, where Jim Leishman was given a warm ovation by the home fans on his return to East End Park a decade after being sacked.

The home side were ahead for much of the game after Steve Crawford's diving header in the eighth minute. David Bingham scored the equaliser, against his old club, in the 73rd minute with a 20-yard yard shot and then Barry Wilson netted the winner after delightful play by Massimiliano Caputo.

Motherwell produced the habitual response of a managerless team by inflicting a 2–0 defeat on Hearts just four days after the sacking of Billy Davies. It was their first win of the season and takes them above St Johnstone, who play Hibernian today.

Veteran striker David Kelly scored after 37 minutes when he drew Antti Niemi and slid the ball past the keeper and Stuart Elliott's 73rd-minute header was welcome respite for the bottom side.