Kilmarnock impressively moved level on points with fourth-placed Rangers in the Bank of Scotland Premier League table after an inspired attacking display from forward Kris Boyd earned a 3-0 win and halted Livi's brief resurgence.

Red-hot Boyd heightened his claims for a Scotland Future team start with a glory double to take his tally for the season to 14 goals with Steven Naismith also netting.

Irvine-born Boyd, still only 22, was impressive throughout and Scotland boss Walter Smith will surely run the rule over him in the forthcoming clash with Poland at Rugby Park on December 6.

The result was made worse for Paul Lambert's men after news filtered through from Parkhead of Dunfermline's shock victory - plunging the Lions back to the foot of the table on goal difference.

The afternoon began in noisy fashion as a mark of respect to George Best, who passed away aged just 59.

The 3,446 who gathered at Almondvale were asked to applaud and cheer for 60 seconds to celebrate the life of the Manchester United legend.

On the field, Boyd probably should have given Killie the lead after just four minutes when Allan Johnston picked him out with a delightful cross just eight yards from goal.

Boyd's header was firm but Ludovic Roy produced an outstanding one-handed save to tip the ball over.

Full-back Garry Hay then blazed a shot wide from the resulting corner.

Jason Dair saw a shot fly over in the 24th minute - Livi's first attempt - before dominant Killie took the lead thanks to that man Boyd on 26 minutes.

Hay's cross from the left should have been cleared by Belgian defender Harald Pinxten but he got the ball stuck under his foot and it broke to the striker, who swooped to finish clinically from seven yards.

Two minutes later and the away side made it 2-0 after a fine sweeping move to leave Livi reeling.

Johnston's through-ball was expertly dummied by Colin Nish and Naismith continued his run from deep to stroke the ball past Roy from 12 yards.

Pinxten looked set to atone for his earlier error in the 43rd minute, but Killie defender Simon Ford beat him to Paul Tierney's free-kick to divert the ball over for a corner.

Livi needed a fast start to the second half and Paul Dalglish soon tried his luck from 30 yards but Alan Combe was behind the effort, despite the ball looping up off his chest.

Killie were soon pulling the strings again with former Rangers and Hearts winger Johnston instrumental.

His delicate pass down the right channel saw Boyd fire into the side-netting from a tight angle after 51 minutes. Lambert had to make a change and did so four minutes later with the ineffectual Robert Snodgrass taken off for Ramon Pereira.

Boyd then almost got lucky on the hour mark when his 15-yard shot deflected off Greg Strong and dribbled wide to the relief of a wrong-footed Roy.

Livi were struggling to create, but skipper Dave MacKay saw a header drop just wide in the 70th minute after a fine centre from Richard Brittain.

But the match was ended as a contest seven minutes from time when Hay's hooked ball caused havoc in the Livi rearguard and Boyd kept his composure to coolly lift the ball over the onrushing Roy for his seventh goal in just his last four games.

The Killie fans quickly chanted 'Are you watching Walter Smith?' - and the national manager surely is.

Teams:

Livingston Roy, Mackay, Pinxten, Strong, Tierney, Brittain, Walker (McPake 72), Neil Barrett, Dair (Vincze 63), Dalglish, Snodgrass (Pereira 54).

Subs Not Used: Dorado, Miller, Scott, McKenzie.

Booked: Neil Barrett.

Kilmarnock Combe, Greer, Ford, Wright, Fowler, Invincibile (Murray 84), Nish (McDonald 84), Johnston, Hay, Naismith (Wales 84), Boyd.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Lilley, Campbell, Pronevych.

Booked: Hay.

Goals: Boyd 26, Naismith 29, Boyd 82.

Att: 3,446

Ref: E Smith (Scotland).