Barry Robson grabbed a hat-trick as Dundee United demolished Hearts 4-1 at Tannadice on Wednesday, with the Edinburgh side ending the match with only eight men after having three men sent-off.

There were only three SPL matches played on Wednesday with the other games being postponed as a mark of respect to Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell, 35, who died after collapsing near the end of the Fir Park side's 5-3 victory at home to Dundee United on Saturday.

While the games involving Motherwell and Hibernian, Gretna and St Mirren, and Celtic and Rangers were all postponed the other three matches went ahead, with a minute's applause held before kick-off and the players wearing black armbands.

Dundee United were boosted before their match at home to Hearts after bringing in three new players - defender Danny Grainger arriving from Gretna on a three-year contract, Eric Odhiambo on loan from Leicester for the rest of the season, and midfielder Danny Swanson moved from Berwick.

And the Tannadice team opened the scoring through captain Robson - who has been linked with a January switch to SPL leaders Celtic - when he drilled Lee Wilkie's cross into the net from six-yards.

Hearts hit back before the break through their own skipper Christophe Berra, when he latched on to Marius Zaliukas' nod down from a Michael Stewart corner, and smashed it home from close range.

In the second half Hearts lost their discipline, starting with a foul by Zaliukas on Lee Wilkie to hand United a penalty. The Lithuanian was then sent-off for violent conduct and Robson stepped up to convert the penalty and restore his side's lead.

In the final few minutes Robson's cross was met by Noel Hunt and his glancing header beat goalkeeper Stevie Banks to make sure of the victory.

And the rout was completed after Robson was fouled when through on goal by Lee Wallace - who was subsequently sent-off.

Robson duly dusted himself down and rifled the ball home from the spot to complete his hat-trick.

A dreadful day for Hearts was completed when Michael Stewart received a second yellow card and became the third man to be sent-off.

It was an impressive victory by Craig Levein's side but Hearts are now in freefall and have lost their last six SPL games to sink to third bottom in the league.

United manager Levein said: "I was worried at how the players would react after the events of the weekend but they managed to keep their concentration.

"I can't say anything about players in other teams but I was happy we managed to keep our discipline and didn't get involved in some of the things that were happening."

Aberdeen ensured they stayed level with fourth placed Dundee United with a narrow 1-0 victory at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Dons looked to be heading for a share of the points until Caley's Ross Tokely fouled Lee Miller in the penalty area in the 82nd minute. The Pittodrie captain Barry Nicholson stepped up to fire the ball home from the spot and clinch all three points for his side.

In the final SPL match Falkirk won 1-0 away to Kilmarnock to move into the top six.

Carl Finnigan scored the only goal of the game, with a glancing header in the 11th minute, and both sides finished the game with only 10 men - with Killie's Frazer Wright and the Bairn's Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul sent-off near the end.