Impressive Kilmarnock turned in their best display of the season to comfortably dispose of lacklustre Livingston 4-0 and move up into fourth place in the SPL.

Goals from Andy McLaren and Peter Canero gave the Rugby Park men a comfortable half-time lead and when Kris Boyd slammed in a spectacular 25-yarder four minutes after the break, there was no way back for the home side.

In the 70th minute McLaren grabbed his second to complete the misery for Livi, who have now failed to beat the Rugby Park men in their last five meetings.

It was the visitors who made their intentions clear early on.

McLaren, just back from suspension, partnered Boyd in attack and he cleverly put wing-back Canero in after four minutes but Livi keeper David McEwan was quick off his line to block from close range.

It was a taste of things to come as the Rugby Park men went on to dominate most of the first half and it was no real surprise when the visitors took the lead in the 20th minute.

Livi defender Gus Bahoken fouled Boyd out on the right and Stevie Fulton swung in a low free-kick into the box to the lively McLaren who found himself with some space at the near post to steer the ball into the far corner with the slightest of touches.

A minute later Livi striker Davide Xausa somehow managed to shoot straight at keeper Colin Meldrum from close range but the visitors were well on top and grabbed a well-taken second goal in the 33rd minute with one of the best moves of the game.

McLaren set Boyd free on the right-hand side of the box and when the big striker's cross came over to the back post, Canero came running in to slam his header past the helpless McEwan.

Just before the break only a great save from McEwan prevented Boyd's looping back post header making it 3-0.

Livi manager Jim Leishman replaced defender Phillipe Brinquin with striker Barry Wilson as the home side tried to battle back into the game in the second half.

And when Killie defender Greg Shields fouled Burton O'Brien at the edge of the box Rolando Zarate's free-kick struck the wall and was eventually cleared to safety.

The home side's hopes were short-lived, however, and the game was put out of their reach in the 49th minute when Boyd out-paced Bahoken and slammed in spectacular 25-yard shot into the top corner of the net.

It was a goal out of the blue and typified the confidence that was flowing throughout the Rugby Park men.

Livi continued to battle but substitute Wilson's shot from 25 yards in the 63rd minute, which sailed high over the crossbar was a sign of the home side's frustration.

Moments later, with Livi still valiantly pushing for a goal, Burton O'Brien's low drive from 20 yards drew a fine save from Meldrum.

Then Meldrum improved on that save with a great stop from Livi substitute Cherif Toure-Maman's 30-yarder which was heading for the top corner.

But it was all going Kilmarnock's way and in the 70th minute McLaren grabbed his second when he capitalised on slack play in the Livi defence to slam the ball high into the net from close range.

Kilmarnock were rampant now and at times they flooded forward to get more goals. But Livi held on and in the end, the game fizzled out for a comfortable victory for the Ayrshire men.

Teams

Livingston McEwan, Brinquin (Wilson 46), Rubio, Andrews, Bahoken, O'Brien, Makel (Toure-Maman 41), Amor (McMenamin 65), Xausa, Zarate, Bingham.

Subs Not Used: Main, Camacho.

Kilmarnock Meldrum, Shields, McLaughlin, Dindeleux, Fowler, McDonald (Locke 82), Fulton, Mahood, Canero (Hay 85), Boyd, McLaren (Di Giacomo 82).

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Murray.

Booked: McLaughlin.

Goals: McLaren 21, Canero 34, Boyd 49, McLaren 70.

Att: 4,144

Ref: Tom Brown (Scotland).