On target: Aiden McGeady netted Celtic's second

Georgios Samaras scored his first goals for Celtic since January as the champions extended their lead at the top of the table over Rangers to six points. Greece striker Samaras notched either side of an Aiden McGeady strike to propel the home side to an easy win over the Lanarkshire men. Substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, on for Scott McDonald, grabbed his first goal since September with seven minutes remaining to pile the pressure on crisis club Rangers, who travel to Falkirk today.

The scene was set early as Celtic right-back Andreas Hinkel burrowed his way diligently towards goal and his right-footed pass from 30 yards somehow found its way past the hesitant Accies defence an into the box and Samaras calmly dinked the ball over the on-rushing Sean Murdoch. The striker had scored a penalty for Greece in a midweek win over Israel but it was first SPL goal since 3 January when he netted twice in a 2-2 draw with Dundee United.

Celtic assumed complete control and in the 20th minute as McGeady jinked past Alex Neil 30 yards from goal and curled a right-footed shot inches past Murdoch's left-hand post. Two minutes later, Shunsuke Nakamura sent McGeady clear on the left channel with a defence-splitting pass and this time the former Celtic youth player slipped the ball under Murdoch for number two. The game was effectively over and the Hoops fans sat back in total silence to watch a procession.

They came to life on the half-hour mark when Samaras weaved his way across the park and past some flailing Accies challenges before sending McGeady racing clear again. But his touch was too strong on this occasion. Samaras and Nakamura booth missed good chances but in the 65th minute Samaras grabbed his second and Celtic's third. Marc Crosas' long ball was controlled on the left by the Greek and he took his time before going to the left of Martin Canning and firing into the far corner from an acute angle.

All that was left Hesselink's fourth and Rangers' response.