Celtic crushed Hearts 5-0 on Saturday to stay on the heels of Rangers after the Scottish Premier League leaders had won 2-1 at Kilmarnock. Reigning champions Celtic are second on 10 points from four matches, two behind Rangers.

Shunsuke Nakamura scored twice in the ninth minute before Italy's Massimo Donati strolled through the defence on a solo effort.

Celtic kept up the pressure after the interval as Scott Brown got his first goal for the club. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink cracked in a penalty for 4-0 and Nakamura completed the scoring in the closing stages by slipping a shot past goalkeeper Steve Banks.

Earlier, Rangers maintained their 100 per cent record to stay on top of the table. American striker DaMarcus Beasley fired Rangers ahead. Kilmarnock levelled the score on the hour as Danny Invincibile clipped home a low shot from the centre of the penalty area.

Rangers secured the win when French striker Jean Claude Darcheville whipped a shot into the bottom right-hand corner.