GLASGOW, Dec 26 (SW) - Celtic were nearly forced to settle for a Boxing Day draw at Celtic Park, but a late goal by Shunsuke Nakamura lifted the Bhoys to a win over Livingston, keeping their four-point lead over Hearts, who were big winners as well.

Celtic - Livingston 2-1

Shaun Maloney got the first goal of the match at the penalty spot in the 39th minute, converting the spot kick after Greg Strong tripped him up in the area.

The crowd went silent, though, in the 57th minute when Paul Dalglish capitalized on Bobo Balde's slip and fired home to make the score 1-1.

With the match headed for a draw and Celtic desperate not to allow Hearts closer in the table, Nakamura got a pass from Paul Telfer and then rounded defenders before firing in from the edge of the area to seal the victory.

Hearts - Falkirk 5-0

It was good that Nakamura scored, too, for Celtic as Hearts rolled to a five-goal thrashing of Falkirk at Tynecastle on Monday.

In a scramble in front of goal, it was Hearts captain Paul Hartley who finally tucked home in the 20th minute and Falkirk would be down to ten men three minutes later after Stephen O'Donnell got his second yellow.

Rudi Skacel fired home with his 15th goal of the year in the 25th minute, drilling a shot into the roof of the net before Calum Elliot got his first Hearts goal four minutes before half-time.

Michal Pospisil, who has recently claimed he might leave the club, headed home a cross by Deividas Cesnauskis in the 73rd minute before Elliot got his second of the game near the end from 20 yards out.

Dunfermline - Rangers 3-3

A late goal from the penalty spot lifted bottom side Dunfermline to a big draw with Rangers, who now fall 17 points back of the leaders and 13 back of second-placed Hearts.

Andy Tod fired the home side into a 16th-minute lead, tucking in after Noel Hunt's cross which was setup by a free kick.

Six minutes later, Rangers got level through Peter Løvenkrands who scored from a hooking shot from outside the area, but Mark Burchill immediately restored Dunfermline's lead in the 23rd minute.

Lee Makel was sent off in the 65th minute for handling a shot by Marvin Andrews on the goal line and Løvenkrands stepped up to the spot to level the match at 2-2 before Chris Burke gave Alex McLeish's men the lead two minutes later by roofing one into the net.

Dunfermline were given a chance to equalize when Sotirios Kyrgiakos was sent off for Rangers for a second bookable offense and Darren Young converted from the spot late on to clinch a point.

Inverness C.T. - Hibernian 2-0

Hibs remain in third place, but fell seven points back of second-placed Hearts after they were defeated by Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium.

Early strikes were the name of the game as the home side went in front on eight minutes when Barry Wilson's shot from distance took a deflection and then hit the back of the Hibs net.

Three minutes later, Hibernian goalkeeper Zbigniew Malkowski mishit an attempted goal kick and Craig Dargo took advantage, taking the ball about 25 yards out, running in and going around Malkowski before tucking the ball in.

Motherwell - Aberdeen 3-1

Scott McDonald scored twice as Motherwell were victorious on Boxing Day over hapless Aberdeen.

McDonald opened the scoring in the ninth minute when his shot took a deflection off of Russell Anderson before spinning past goalkeeper Jamie Langfield for a 1-0 lead.

The striker got his second in the 26th minute, tucking in from just inches away after Richie Foran forced a volley past the goalkeeper.

Alan McCormack made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute to put the game out of reach before John Stewart got a consolation goal late on for the Dons.

Kilmarnock - Dundee United 2-1

Playing their first match since the sale of Kris Boyd to Rangers, Kilmarnock notched a victory over Dundee United to take them to fourth in the league ahead of Rangers.

What appeared to be a cross by Gary McDonald in the 38th minute found its way into the net to give Killie the lead, but Colin Samuel slammed home the equalizer in the 51st after shot by David McCracken was parried by Alan Combe.

The match looked to he headed for a draw until the final moments as Gary Wales got on a ball in the area and beat Derek Stillie to secure full points.