GLASGOW (AFP) - Rangers returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-0 win at home to Aberdeen on Sunday - taking advantage of Celtic's earlier defeat away to Hibernian.

The Ibrox side had started the day one point behind their Old Firm rivals.

However, after the Parkhead side went down 3-2 at Easter Road, a Lee McCulloch strike, Steven Naismith's first goal for the club and a late third from Kris Boyd meant Rangers were two points ahead by early evening.

Rangers manager Walter Smith was a happy man at the end but admitted the game was more difficult than the scoreline suggested.

"There wasn't much between the sides in the first half and it was going to take something special to break the deadlock," he said.

"Lee McCulloch came up with that for us with a terrific strike which opened up the game for us and allowed Steven Naismith and Kris Boyd to finish the game for us.

"It's great to be at the top of the league but it would be better at the end of the season."

Aberdeen had been forced to defend deeply as the home side pressed for an early opener and visiting goalkeeper Jamie Langfield was called into action in the fourth minute, diving low to his right to save McCulloch's 25-yard effort.

Although Rangers continued to dominate they were unable to create any real chances in the first half.

However, within a minute of the second half they took the lead in stunning fashion.

A long kick-out from goalkeeper Allan McGregor was chested down by Gabon international Daniel Cousin and from 30-yards McCulloch struck a tremendous dipping shot over Langfield into the top corner of the net.

In the 65th minute Naismith, making his first start for Rangers since signing from Kilmarnock in August, secured the win for his new side.

The 20-year-old forward spun away from his marker on the left of the penalty area and from a difficult angle fired the ball past Langfield into the far corner of the net.

Naismith was forced off in the 83rd minute, following a crude challenge by Zander Diamond, and was replaced by Boyd.

And in the 88th minute Rangers' French forward Jean-Claude Darcheville played in fellow substitute Boyd who smashed low past Langfield from 12-yards.

Scott Severin almost pulled one back for Aberdeen at the death with a 30-yard free-kick which beat McGregor but crashed off the bar.

The result means Aberdeen have only five points from their opening seven games but manager Jimmy Calderwood remained relatively upbeat at the end.

He said: "We were comfortable in the first half without creating much and I was hoping if we could keep it tight for the first 10 minutes after the break Rangers might become frustrated.

"Unfortunately we couldn't hold out for 30 seconds and although it was a wonderful strike by Lee and fit to win any game, it was poor defending by us.

"We've had a poor start to the season by our standards but it would be a brave man who bet against Aberdeen finishing in the top six by the end of the season."

At Easter Road Hibs had taken an early lead when Steven Fletcher's shot was fumbled by Celtic's Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

Ireland international Aiden McGeady equalised for Gordon Strachan's team but the Edinburgh side restored their lead before the break through Cameroon defender Thierry Gathuessi.

Again Celtic hit back through former Hibs defender Gary Caldwell but the home team took all three points through Northern Ireland forward Dean Shiels' late winner.