However, it was the return of Shaun Maloney, on for the injured Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in the first half, which provided the main talking point.

The former Aston Villa player, signed on Friday after an 18-month spell in England, won the free-kick from which McManus's 31st-minute goal arrived and then he set Samaras up either side of the interval for the Greece international to open his account for the season.

Rangers dropped their first points of the season amid controversy as Aberdeen once again proved to be an unhappy hunting ground as they drew 1-1.

David Weir opened the scoring but his header was cancelled out by Derek Young, before DaMarcus Beasley controversially had a goal ruled offside late in the game.

Rangers had hoped to make amends for the defeat at the same venue on the final day of last season which killed off their championship hopes - instead they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

Manuel Pascali's first goal in Scottish football for Kilmarnock ended Hamilton's perfect start in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and helped Killie join the Old Firm pair on seven points after a 1-0 win.

The Italian midfielder rose well at the far post in first-half injury-time to head the only goal of a competitive encounter at Rugby Park.

Killie maintained the edge in the second half and finished strongly after Hamilton winger David Graham was sent off.

Michael Stewart's second-half penalty secured a dramatic 2-1 win for Hearts against 10-man St Mirren.

The midfielder capped a week in which he made his Scotland return by giving Hearts a victory which should have been more straightforward following the first-half sending-off of visiting midfielder Tonet.

Jamie Mole put the home side in front in first-half injury-time but Billy Mehmet's equaliser against the run of play ensured Csaba Laszlo's side had to battle all the way for their second consecutive home win. Stewart scored from the spot before missing a second penalty in stoppage-time.

Dundee United goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska saved a second-half penalty from Chris Porter to help his side claim a 1-1 draw at Motherwell.

New signing John Sutton had given the home side the lead with a debut goal 12 minutes from the interval but the sides were on level terms by the break after Tannadice captain Lee Wilkie headed home a close-range equaliser.

Motherwell dominated the second half but striker Porter failed to cash in from the spot after being brought down.

The draw gave Well their first point of the season, but both sides are still looking for their first win after three games.

Inverness and Hibernian maintained their steady starts to the season after a 1-1 draw at the Caledonian Stadium.

Don Cowie gave the home side the lead when he raced on to a Ian Black pass before finding the net with a deflected finish.

But Colin Nish netted Hibs' first ever goal in Inverness immediately after the restart when he beat the offside trap.