After Hearts dropped points earlier in the day, goals from Johnny Kenny, Kieran Tierney - Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels, with an added-time penalty, condemned Kilmarnock to a fifth consecutive defeat as they dropped to 10th.

"I'm delighted we've won, and you do need help when you're chasing someone, but there's a long way to go," interim Celtic manager Martin O'Neill told the BBC.

O'Neill, who enjoyed great success during his first spell as Celtic boss from 2000-2005, returned to Parkhead last month after manager Brendan Rodgers resigned following a breakdown in his relations with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.

The 73-year-old O'Neill, who has repeatedly insisted his current appointment is a short-term measure until Celtic find a younger, full-time successor to Rodgers, added: "I'll take a little time in the international break, most of our players will be away, and there will be time for inner reflection.

"It's been a whirlwind of a fortnight, I can't believe it's really happened. I genuinely don't know (if I'll be back in two weeks). If the board make up their mind, it's absolutely fine by me."

Hearts were held 1-1 at home by Dundee United, their second draw in three matches. Alexandros Kyziridis' shot rebounded off a post and deflected into the net off United goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko, only for Luca Stephenson to equalise just before half-time.

"I thought we didn't deserve any more than the point we got," said Hearts manager Derek McInnes. "It's difficult to be too critical of the fact that we're 12 games in, we've hit 30 points already, we're in the second week of November and we're still unbeaten."

New Rangers boss Danny Rohl enjoyed a third successive league win, 3-0 over Dundee, to move 12 points behind Hearts with a match in hand and five behind arch Glasgow rivals Celtic, who've also played 11 league games.

Nico Raskin headed home a ninth-minute corner and Mikey Moore doubled the lead with his first goal since joining on loan from Tottenham Hotspur before Djeidi Gassama curled home the third in the 90th minute.

Rohl, acclaimed by travelling Gers supporters after the game at Dens Park, said: "I try to always have a good relationship with our fans. Respect for them, they travel everywhere. I see a lot of togetherness more and more.

"Again, when I look back, since I have been here, everyone goes more and more towards one direction. It is good. I have great support from my staff and my coaches, and the players are listening and if we can bring this together with our fans then we are all going in one direction and we can build something here."

Motherwell made it three unbeaten in the league with a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen, Elijah Just cancelling out Jesper Karlsson's opener for the Dons.

J. Kenny

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