Motherwell furthered their quest for a European place after a whirlwind start at Fir Park gave them a 3-1 win and took them 11 points ahead of Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Mark Reynolds headed home inside two minutes and John Sutton finished off a smart move as the hosts threatened every time they went forward in the first quarter.
Jim O'Brien lashed home a third in the 69th minute and only a quickfire response from Hearts substitute David Templeton prevented Motherwell leapfrogging third-placed Dundee United on goal difference.
Former Falkirk players Liam Craig and Kenny Deuchar came back to haunt their old club as St Johnstone claimed a precious 2-1 victory at Westfield to leave the Bairns marooned at the foot of the table.
Deuchar profited from a dreadful mistake from Tam Scobbie to lob home six minutes from time following Craig's 45th-minute penalty.
Marc Twaddle had earlier given Falkirk the lead from close range after errors from Perth goalkeeper Graeme Smith.
Flavio Paixao's injury-time winner saw Hamilton leapfrog St Mirren into 10th with a 1-0 win at New Douglas Park.
Robbie Keane's second-half hat-trick took Celtic past Kilmarnock in their Active Nation Scottish Cup quarter-final clash with a 3-0 win at Rugby Park.
The Republic of Ireland striker opened the scoring from Edson Braafheid's long ball in the 63rd minute and a brace within a minute later on secured the visitors a place in Monday's semi-final draw.
First Division Ross County came from behind twice to earn a deserved replay with a 2-2 draw against shell-shocked Hibernian.
Colin Nish gave the hosts a a seventh-minute opener but Ian Murray's own goal nine minutes later gave the Highlanders hope.
And, despite going in at half-time 2-1 behind after Derek Riordan's 19th-minute drive, the SPL hopefuls were more than worthy of Michael Gardyne's 80th-minute equaliser after a magnificent second-half showing.
Raith Rovers earned a place in the last four with a hard-fought 2-1 win over below-par Dundee.
John McGlynn's opened the scoring after three minutes when Stephen Simmons volleyed home and doubled their lead in the 10th minute when Laurie Ellis powerfully headed home from an Allan Walker free-kick.
Dundee gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Craig Forsyth headed home after 73 minutes but it was not enough.
