Celtic pulled four points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead.

In a one-sided first half, goals from Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras gave the home side a deserved lead which could have been more convincing if not for some slack play in the final third.

Although Killie skipper Kevin Kyle missed three good chances with his head, Hoops substitute Niall McGinn, on for Paddy McCourt in the second half, put a proper perspective on the game when he grabbed the third in 78 minutes.http://www.scotprem.com(Scottish Premier League's official website)

In a whirlwind start by the home side, stand-in keeper Cameron Bell saved from Hoops' striker Scott McDonald at his near post, just moments after Killie had survived a penalty scare when the ball appeared to glance off Frazer Wright's hand.

However, in the 13th minute the Killie defender had less luck when McGeady took him on inside the box, beat him with a trick, then fired his angled shot from 14 yards past Bell and into the net off the far post.

After Paddy McCourt and Scott McDonald both went close the hosts went two ahead in the 32nd minute following yet another fine move which cut open Kilmarnock.

McGeady released the unmarked Andreas Hinkel down the right and his cross was bulleted past Bell by the head of Samaras.

Two minutes from the break, in their first real foray, Kyle missed a sitter when he headed Gavin Skelton's cross past the post from five yards.

The visitors showed a willingness at the start of the second half and in the 50th minute Kyle came closer with his header from Craig Bryson's cross, this time the ball just clearing the bar and moments later he headed over again, this time from a Jamie Hamill cross.

McGinn sealed the points in the 78th minute when he ran on to a Hinkel pass and rifled the ball past Bell from 16 yards.