Rangers opened up a three-point lead at the top of the SPL with a thumping 4-1 victory over Hamilton at Ibrox.

Walter Smith’s side knew they could steal a march on fellow early frontrunners Celtic and Hibernian, who face each other on Sunday.

Rangers were dominant from the word go with Steve Davis missing two opportunities before his ball in behind the visiting defence allowed Steven Whittaker to stroke the ball past Tomas Cerny.

The lead was soon doubled when Kris Boyd struck on his return to the Rangers starting line-up as he glanced home Sasa Papac’s deflected cross.

Boyd grabbed his second on 65 minutes when he tucked away Steven Naismith’s cut back before Whittaker curled an effort past Cerny after a one-two with Davis.

Mark McLaughlin headed in from a corner to secure a late consolation but Hamilton are still awaiting their first point of the campaign.

Danny Cadamarteri made it three goals in his last three appearances as he set Dundee United on their way to a 2-1 victory over Falkirk, lifting them into second in the table.

Cademarteri swept home Danny Swanson’s cross from close range four minutes after the restart before David Goodwillie doubled the advantage

A debut Falkirk strike from Kjartan Finnbogason set the game up for a tense finale, but Craig Levein’s side held on for maximum points.

And Stephen McGinn fired a second half double as St Mirren recovered from a poor display in the opening period to win 2-1 at Kilmarnock while Aberdeen drew 0-0 with Motherwell.

Raith Rovers leapfrogged Dunfermline Athletic to go top of the table with a 2-0 victory at East End Park.

Defender Grant Murray opened the scoring in the 33rd minute before Dunfermline midfielder Willie Gibson was sent off.

Damián Casalinuovo sealed the victory in the 60th minute to fire Rovers to the summit.

Queen of the South are hot on Raith’s heels, winning 2-0 at home to Ayr United.

Midfielder Willie McLaren slotted home on the stroke of half time before Rocco Quinn doubled the lead in the 63rd minute.

At the other end of the table, Partick Thistle put five past hapless Morton.

Liam Buchanan opened the scoring on 24 minutes before a quick fire double from Mark Corcoran made it three before the break.

Midfielder Paul Cairney added a fourth in the 66th minute before Buchanan rounded off the scoring late on.

A Jim Lauchlan own goal earned rock-bottom Airdree United a 1-1 draw at home to Dundee.

Colin McMenamin had put the visitors in front in the 36th minute before the United defender turned past his own keeper moments later.

Ross County put in an impressive performance at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, winning 3-1.

Div 1

Paul Di Giacomo put County in front early on, with Iain Vigurs doubling the lead shortly after the break.

Irish midfielder Jonathan Hayes pulled one back for Thistle in the 60th minute but Richard Brittain restored the two-goal lead 15 minutes from the end.

Div 2

Alloa Athletic moved to the top of the table with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Clyde.

Midfielder Brian Carrigan scored the only goal of the game for his new club, firing home in the 17th minute.

David McKenna struck a last-minute winner in Stirling Albion’s 2-1 home victory over Peterhead.

Douglas Cameron had given the visitors a half-time lead with the first goal Albion have conceded this season.

But McKenna was on hand to fire home the equaliser in the 77th before winning it in injury time.

Arbroath, top of the table at the start of play, were beaten 3-0 at Stenhousemuir, with all the goals coming in the second half.

Defender Jordan Smith opened the scoring in the 50th minute before Iain Thomson doubled the lead seven minutes later.

Iain Diack made the result safe in the 75th minute.

Dumbarton remain bottom of the table after a 3-1 reverse at Brechin City.

Mark Docherty gave the home side a 21st minute lead before defender Mick Dunlop equalised for the visitors five minutes later.

Rory McAllister restored the lead in the 36th minute before a last-minute Charlie King penalty rounded off the victory.

Jay Stein scored his first goal for new club Cowdenbeath in their 1-1 draw at East Fife.

The striker struck early on but Paul McManus scored a late equaliser to share the points.