The Hibs got their Premier League campaign off to a flyer with a resounding victory over Bathgate at a sunny Memorial Park on Saturday.

And it was last season's top scorer, Chris Ireland, who picked up where he'd left off as he raced on to Greig Renton's long pass to clip the ball over Alex McMahon in the 13th minute to put his side one up.

It was all-square ten minutes later when Kyle Nicoll's rasping drive from fully 25 yards flashed into the bottom corner of the net.

There's never a bad time to score a goal but many would agree that a goal just before half-time gives a team a real lift and that's exactly what happened when Garry Thomson finished coolly after being set-up by Chris Ireland.

Clever wing play by Chris Ireland gave him the opportunity to roll the ball to Mathew Gay to make it three in the 61st minute and two minutes later it was a case of deja vu as Ireland and Gay combined again to put the Hibs 4-1 up.

Ireland wrapped things up with a stunning free-kick in the 72nd minute.

Window Store Hibs' Man of the Match – Chris Ireland

Bathgate Thistle: McMahon, Brady, Nicoll, Macissac, Fairley, Murray, Hutton, Baird, Jack, Macleod, Jaconelli. Subs: McGurk, Young, Rae, Malone, Harris.

Referee: Mr G. Farmer