GLASGOW (AFP) - Rangers maintained their perfect start to the Scottish Premier League season with a 4-0 win at home to Gretna on Saturday.

Kris Boyd, Andy Webster, Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar and French forward Jean-Claude Darcheville scored the goals to give Walter Smith's side their fifth straight league victory.

Rangers are now five points ahead of Old Firm rivals Celtic - ahead of their game away to St Mirren on Sunday.

And to increase the feel-good factor at Ibrox Steven Naismith, who was signed from Kilmarnock in the final minutes of the transfer window on Friday for just under two million pounds, came off the substitute's bench to make his debut.

But despite all this Smith was not completely satisfied with his team's performance.

The Rangers manager said: "In the first half we didn't play well at all and I was disappointed with the performance. Gretna had a few opportunities and if they'd been able to make better passes in the final third they could have caused us a bigger problem.

"We got a bit better in the second half and thankfully managed to get the goals so it really was a game of two halves."

Gretna's manager Davie Irons thought his side were unlucky to have lost so heavily.

He said: "Our game plan was working perfectly but the goal we lost is the story of our life just now.

"It was Rangers' first real opportunity and the shot didn't look as if it would cause any problems until it took the deflection.

"We had chances but we didn't have the self-belief you need at this level in the final third.

"Playing at Ibrox in front of nearly 50,000 supporters is a massive learning curve for everyone at Gretna but I don't think we deserved to lose by four goals."

Rangers were expected to be comfortable victors over Gretna, who were making their first ever visit to Ibrox, but the SPL new boys were first to have an effort on goal in the sixth minute.

Uruguayan striker Fabian Yantorno controlled Gavin Skelton's cross, rounded Rangers' defender Cuellar and shot from 10-yards to force goalkeeper Allan McGregor to save at his near post.

But in the 38th minute Rangers opened the scoring with their first real effort, after Gabon international Daniel Cousin was fouled on the edge of the box by Gretna's French defender Aurelien Collin.

Gers captain Barry Ferguson took a short free-kick to tee-up Boyd and his low drive from 20-yards deflected off Gretna's Abdul Osman to wrong-foot goalkeeper Greg Fleming and find the back of the net.

Rangers doubled their lead in the 63rd minute.

American winger DaMarcus Beasley's corner was met by defender Webster - making his competitive debut - and his header found the roof of the net.

In the 81st minute Rangers stretched their lead again.

Ferguson chipped a free-kick across goal and Cuellar bulleted home a header at the back post from six-yards.

And only a minute later the home side made it 4-0 when Darcheville drove into the penalty area and although his shot from a tight angle was straight at Fleming, the ball squirmed through the keeper's hands and into the net.

In the other SPL games on Saturday Dundee United won 2-0 at home to Falkirk, with second half goals from Noel Hunt and Barry Robson.

Hibernian won 1-0 against Inverness Caledonian Thistle - Steven Fletcher scoring the only goal of the match from the penalty spot early on.

And Lee Miller's goal gave Aberdeen a 1-0 win away to Kilmarnock.