Celtic went above Rangers for a short while as they put four past the hapless Hamilton in their match-up at Parkhead.

Shunsuke Nakamura opened the scoring for Celtic with his 25th minute strike. He got onto an Aiden McGeady cross before smashing in a volley.

Nakamura was instrumental in the second goal too, as he crossed in to Georgios Samaras, and the Greek striker had no trouble blasting his tenth of the season in from18 yards.

Hamilton had a good chance of coming back into the match on the hour mark as James McArthur almost pulled one back, but his low shot scraped wide of Artur Boruc's post.

The Hoops went three goals up as Australian striker Scott McDonald picked up a cross from McGeady in the 76th minute and beat the Hamilton defence before sliding it past former Spurs keeper Radek Cerny.

Hamilton looked set to score a consolation goal when they were awarded a penalty when Gary Caldwell fouled James McCarthy in the box. Boruc heroically saved it as he gloved away the spot kick and then saved McCarthy's quick rebound.

It was McGeady who hammered the final nail into the visitors' coffin when he scored Celtic's fourth in the 83rd minute. He got onto the end of a Shaun Maloney cross and shot it in from eight yards out.

Celtic go temporarily to the top of the SPL table while Hamilton drop one place to eighth.

Celtic: Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Robson, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Crosas, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald. Subs: Mark Brown, Samaras, Maloney, Donati, Hartley, O'Dea, Caddis

Hamilton: Cerny, Mensing, Elebert, Swailes, Easton, Neil, Graham, McCarthy, Canning, McArthur, Lyle. Subs: Murdoch, Casement, McClenahan, Thomas, Ettien, Corcoran, Akins

Referee: S Conroy (Scotland)