Wayward Larsson lets off Livingston

So Henrik Larsson is mortal after all. Europe's leading scorer last term missed a penalty at Almondvale Stadium which ensured Celtic spilled their first points in the Scottish Premier League this season.

Livingston, fast becoming the nemesis of the Old Firm, frustrated the champions just as they had Rangers two weeks ago, but this goalless draw was anything but stale, and the newly-promoted side deserved some reward from such an engrossing encounter.

Larsson was handed the chance to break the deadlock in the 75th minute when Gary Bollan was sent off after bringing down Jackie McNamara, but the Livingston goalkeeper, Javier Broto, despite being sent the wrong way, stuck out a leg to divert the Swedish striker's spot-kick over the bar.

Ironically, the goals rained in everywhere else in the SPL. Hearts shredded Dundee at Tynecastle with three goals in five first-half minutes. Colin Cameron netted his third in four matches after just 12 minutes with a fine right-foot volley, before Gary Wales quickly added a double with a fierce left-foot shot and then finished off Juanjo's free-kick. The boot of Giorgi Nemsadze fired a late consolation for Dundee.

Dundee United threw away a two-goal advantage at Tannadice before overcoming Dunfermline. Jim McIntyre and then Derek Lilley, with a fine 20-yard shot, secured the lead, but Scott Thomson played a captain's role for Dunfermline by hitting back with two second-half goals, the first from the penalty spot and then thrashing in a 25-yard free-kick in the 77th minute. However, United responded within a minute when Jim Hamilton coolly slotted in a penalty after Lilley was brought down in the area.

Kilmarnock comfortably took care of the bottom side St Johnstone at Rugby Park. The teenager Paul Di Giacomo scored his first ever goal for the club after just 12 minutes, beating the offside trap to catch Mikael Pizzo's threaded pass and curling a shot beyond Alan Main. Pizzo then doubled the lead 15 minutes later with a carbon-copy move and even Willie Falconer's late response could not dent Kilmarnock.

Even Aberdeen caught the goal bug. Ebbe Skovdahl's side, without a goal or a point before Motherwell's visit, secured a 4-2 success at Pittodrie. The former Huddersfield winger Ben Thornley's deflected shot after 20 minutes ended Aberdeen's scoring drought, and though Karl Ready and David Kelly engineered a lead for Motherwell, Robbie Winters equalised and then second-half goals from and Darren Mackie and Hicham Zerouali lifted the Dons off the bottom of the SPL table.