Defending champions Celtic crushed Hearts 5-0 to stay on the heels of Rangers after their great rivals and Scottish Premier League leaders won 2-1 at Kilmarnock in an early kick-off.

Celtic are now second, two points behind Walter Smith's side with 10 points from four matches.

Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura scored twice, starting the rout with a shot deflected off defender Christophe Berra into the net 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 and Scott Brown got his first goal for the club.

Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink cracked in a penalty into the bottom left corner for 4-0 and Nakamura completed the scoring in the closing stages by slipping a shot past keeper Steve Banks.

Hearts were reduced to 10 men late in the match when Neil McCann was injured after they had used all three substitutes.

Earlier, Rangers maintained their 100 per cent record to stay on top of the table. It was the first loss of the season for Kilmarnock, who have seven points.

American striker DaMarcus Beasley fired Rangers ahead in the 52nd minute when the ball fell to him after a penalty box scramble and he rammed it in from 10 metres.

However, Kilmarnock levelled the score on the hour as Australian 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.

Hibernian and Aberdeen fought drew 3-3. Aberdeen's Craig Brewster hit a double in his last game before returning to Inverness Caledonian Thistle as player-manager.

Dundee United won 3-0 at Inverness while St Mirren beat Falkirk 1-0 with a late goal from Billy Mehmet.