GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Hearts on Saturday to move to within a point of Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's first half opener put Gordon Strachan's side on the road to victory, with Australian striker Scott McDonald and German full-back Andreas Hinkel, with his first goal for the club, sealing all three points after the break.

The win cut the advantage of league leaders Rangers, who are away to Kilmarnock on Sunday, to a solitary point.

Only the woodwork had denied Shunsuke Nakamura a sixth-minute opener for Celtic.

The Japanese international's left foot free-kick from 23-yards curled over Hearts' defensive wall, leaving goalkeeper Steven Banks rooted to the spot, only to rebound off the post.

The hosts were overrunning the Edinburgh side and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 14th minute.

Aiden McGeady was the provider, twisting and turning on the left wing before crossing into the box where Dutch international Vennegoor of Hesselink beat Banks to the ball to poke it home from eight yards.

Hearts almost got themselves back on level terms in the 24th minute.

Lithuanian midfielder Andrius Ksanavicius' chip sailed over the head of Celtic's Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc but Stephen McManus headed the ball off his own line.

Suddenly, the Tynecastle team were looking dangerous and in the 32nd minute they should have equalised.

Boruc could not hold Andrew Driver's low drive but Lithuanian striker Andrius Velicka, only six yards from goal, smashed the loose ball into the side-netting.

At the beginning of the second half Driver's pace took him clear of Celtic's German right-back Hinkel and in on goal but his shot lacked the power to trouble Boruc.

Hearts were made to pay for this miss in the 51st minute when the Parkhead side doubled their advantage.

Nakamura's corner caught the visitor's defence napping, allowing McDonald to peel off his marker and nod home unimpeded.

Velicka was close to pulling one back for Hearts in the 55th minute with a right-foot shot from 20-yards which beat Boruc only to narrowly miss the target.

Boruc was seething with his defenders for allowing the shot to come in, leading to the Polish international and Celtic captain McManus squaring up to each other.

However, in the 76th minute the home side made sure all three points were staying in Glasgow.

Republic of Ireland international McGeady was again the creator with a clever back heel to send Hinkel in on goal and although the German was almost on the byline he smashed a powerful right-foot shot beyond Banks and into opposite corner of the net.

Three substitutions for Celtic handed home debuts to Greek international George Samaras, midfielder Barry Robson and striker Ben Hutchinson near the end.

And Samaras almost marked his first appearance at Celtic Park with a goal when his fierce left-foot shot from 25-yards rattled the post in the final minute.

In the other SPL games Motherwell moved above Dundee United into third place in the table with a 3-1 win away to bottom of the table Gretna.

Chris Porter put Motherwell ahead in the first half and Ross McCormack doubled their advantage after the break. Brendan McGill pulled one back for the Scottish borders side but McCormack scored his second to complete his side's victory.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle drew 1-1 at home to Dundee United, with Prince Bauben putting the visitors ahead before Markus Paatelainen levelled for Caley.

Falkirk were 4-0 winners at home to St Mirren, with two doubles for Scott Arfield and Patrick Clegg.