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Dundee kicked off their Scottish Premiership campaign with a dominant win over lacklustre Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Greg Stewart gave the visitors a deserved lead when he lashed the ball into the net from 20 yards.

Debutant Rory Loy doubled their advantage just before the break, converting Kevin Holt's cross.

Loy netted again with a header early in the second period before Stewart struck a late fourth.

Paul Hartley's side, who finished in the top six last term in their first season back in the division, pick up where they left off while Killie have much to improve upon after a dreadful performance.

Stewart, Dundee's top scorer in 2014-15, was lively in the opening minutes and fired two efforts at goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.

The hosts' play lacked imagination and Gary Locke's team struggled to provide ammunition for main striker Kris Boyd, beginning his third spell at the club.

And, before too long, MacDonald was required to block strikes from Stewart, Gary Harkins and Kane Hemmings in quick succession.

The visitors should have taken the lead when Loy squared for Hemmings eight yards out, but the striker swept the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

However, the opener was not long in coming as Stewart cut into space in the inside right channel and let fly with both pace and accuracy.

Not content to sit on their advantage, Hartley's men continued to press and were rewarded when Harkins released left-back Holt to centre for Loy and the former Falkirk forward applied the finish at the near post.

Kilmarnock fans booed their team off the park at half-time and Locke took action with three substitutions.

But Mark O'Hara, Dale Carrick and Rory McKenzie were barely on the field in place of Magennis, Jamie Hamill and Chris Johnston when Dundee moved further ahead.

Playmaker Harkins meandered his way towards the by-line and lifted the ball over the outrushing MacDonald for Loy to head home.

The game was as good as over and Dundee spent much of the second half spraying passes around to the delight of their healthy travelling support.

Boyd did get a few sights of goal, but, much like his team's display, conviction was lacking.

Stewart rubbed salt into Killie's wounds when he capitalised on slack defending with a ruthless finish into the top right corner.