Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Greg Taylor's first senior goal helped Kilmarnock rout Hamilton Academical and move above Aberdeen into third place in the Scottish Premiership.

The left-back's early strike set the tone for a dominant display.

Rory McKenzie played a major role in the hosts' next two goals as Conor McAleny and Youssouf Mulumbu finished well.

Chris Burke's deflected goal and Mikael Ndjoli's powerful strike rounded off the scoring as Hamilton toiled.

Brian Rice's Accies rarely threatened and they face a trip to Livingston on Wednesday.

Kilmarnock visit Hibernian that night and Steve Clarke's side are well placed to secure a Europa League qualifying place as the Premiership split approaches next month.

Kilmarnock start as they mean to go on

With Hibs having moved to within three points of Kilmarnock with victory at Livingston on Friday, Clarke's men showed their intent early on, culminating in Taylor's opener. Mulumbu's superb diagonal pass found him in a huge patch of space and a firm finish off a post followed.

Aaron Tshibola, Gary Dicker and Mulumbu were dictating play from deep and McAleny had two efforts blocked towards half-time. But McAleny did find the net after McKenzie's low cross was helped on by Kris Boyd to give the home side a more comfortable advantage.

Mulumbu and McKenzie combined for the third with McKenzie motioning to shoot then slipping a clever return pass for the midfielder to score.

McKenzie almost got the goal his performance deserved when he latched on to Boyd's headed knock-down but volleyed straight at Woods from close range.

Burke replaced Mulumbu and found the net when his ball across from the left took a touch off Hamilton defender Matthew Kilgallon.

And fellow replacement Ndjoli, who had come on for McKenzie, added the icing to the cake after driving at the Hamilton defence and shooting into Woods' top-left corner.

Mulumbu's goal was his first since returning to Kilmarnock on loan from Celtic

'Victory boosts ailing Clarke' - analysis

BBC Scotland's John Barnes at Rugby Park

Kilmarnock manager Clarke had hoped his players would turn in a performance that saved him having to shout instructions as he toiled with a sore throat. They did not let him down.

Accies manager Rice, though, might be the one now feeling under the weather after the display from his team. The speed by which he headed up the tunnel at half-time suggested he was not happy with what he had witnessed in the opening 45 minutes and you could understand why. His side were lucky just to be one down and that was only because Kilmarnock had failed to take advantage of their superiority.

The hosts rectified that statistic in the second period with clever creative play. Accies were second best all over the pitch as Dicker and Mulumbu controlled the midfield and McKenzie ran the visitors ragged. This was probably the best display from McKenzie this season as he has battled with Burke for the right-wing berth. He deservedly went off to a standing ovation when substituted.

This result and performance was the ideal tonic for Clarke, but just as Accies' situation looked like becoming a little bit healthier, they have suddenly suffered a relapse.

'Only one team wanted to play' - reaction

Kilmarnock assistant manager Alex Dyer: "The gaffer's a little bit under the weather but the boys came out and performed. They did everything right.

"Apart from scoring the goals, they created a lot of chances and to a man they were outstanding. We want to finish the season as high as we can."

Hamilton Academical manager Brian Rice: "Only one team looked as though they wanted to be out there, roll their sleeves up, go and play football and go and win a football game and it wasn't us.

"I expected a lot, lot more. I'm lost for words at how we performed."