17/08/2008 5:23 AM
Rangers and Scottish Premiership new boys Hamilton find themselves to be strange bed fellows at the top of the SPL table after an intriguing start to the second round on Saturday.
For Hamilton, Richard Offiong was the hero as the Accies dream start to life in the top flight continued through a 1-0 victory at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The striker netted the only goal of a close encounter in first-half stoppage-time as the Accies held on to top spot with a second straight win since promotion.
Hamilton - playing in the top flight of Scottish football for the first time in 19 years - are above Rangers on goal difference, with Inverness slipping from second to fourth.
With Celtic not playing until Sunday, its Glasgow rival maintained its own 100 per cent start to the campaign with a 2-0 success over 10-man Hearts.
Kyle Lafferty claimed his maiden competitive goal for Rangers and there was also a first strike of the season for Kris Boyd, who converted from the penalty spot in the final minute.
Hearts' cause was not helped by Saulius Mikoliunas' late red card.
Colin Nish scored a brace to give Hibernian a 3-2 victory over Falkirk in a thrilling clash at Easter Road.
The striker broke the deadlock after just 25 seconds and doubled his tally in the 25th minute but Falkirk responded five minutes later through Michael Higdon.
Paul Hanlon restored the home side's two-goal lead after the break, before Higdon notched his second of the game.
But Hibs clung on for their first SPL win of the season.
Charlie Mulgrew kick-started Aberdeen's campaign with a late free-kick goal in its 1-0 victory at Motherwell.
The Dons had looked short of confidence following their defeat by Inverness but Mulgrew curled the ball home from 25 yards out to open his account.
Motherwell enjoyed the better of the play but lacked a cutting edge.
St Mirren striker Jim Hamilton and Kilmarnock midfielder Mehdi Taouil both hit the crossbar in an otherwise uninspiring encounter which ended 0-0 at Love Street.
Scottish Premier League results
Hibernian 3 (Nish 1, 25, Hanlon 47)
Falkirk 2 (Higdon 30, 53)
Inverness CT 0
Hamilton 1 (Offiong 45)
Motherwell 0
Aberdeen 1 (Mulgrew 86)
Rangers 2 (Lafferty 37, Boyd 90 pen)
Hearts 0
St Mirren 0
Kilmarnock 0