Rangers kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Celtic as striker Nikica Jelavic scored a hat-trick as the Gers routed Motherwell 6-0 at Ibrox yesterday.

Steven Naismith got the deluge underway in the fifth minute before Jelavic scored twice in three minutes just after the half-hour mark to give Rangers a 3-0 half-time lead.

The second half was a tighter affair until an own goal from Shaun Hutchison in the 76th minute sparked a seven-minute goal-fest with Jelavic completing his hat-trick before David Healy slotted home on his Rangers debut.

The win puts Rangers, who have a game in hand, two points behind rivals Celtic, who play Dundee United at Tannadice today.

Healy came off the bench to make his Rangers debut and grabbed his team’s last goal of the day in the 83rd minute. Madjid Bougherra cut the ball back for the Northern Ireland striker to slot through the legs of the keeper from close range to boost Rangers’ goal difference.

Premier League
Hamilton 0 - Hearts 2
Hibernian 2 - Kilmarnock 1
Rangers 6 - Motherwell 0
St Johnstone p - Aberdeen p
St Mirren 3 - Inverness 3

Playing today
Dundee Utd-Celtic - 13:00

First Division
Cowdenbeath 0 - Dunfermline 4
Dundee 2 - Raith Rovers 1
Dunfermline p - Cowdenbeath p
Falkirk 1 - Morton 0
Queen of South 3 - Partick Thistle 3
Ross County 0 - Stirling 0

Second Division
Alloa 0 - Forfar 3
Ayr 0 - Livingston 3
Brechin 3 - Peterhead 1
Dumbarton 1 - Airdrie Utd 1
Stenhousemuir 0 - East Fife 2

Third Division
Albion 2 - East Stirling 0
Berwick 2 - Annan Athletic 3
Clyde 3 - Elgin 3
Queen’s Park 1 - Arbroath 1
Stranraer 2 - Montrose 2