It does not take long for The Godfather to leave an impression. He took the job barely one month ago and already his people fawn. The theme song from a 1970s gangster epic blaring from the Rugby Park tannoy was amusing but nevertheless a fitting summation of his talents.

Authoritative on the ball, fierce in the tackle and most evidently respected by his peers. Sitting in front of the back four, Manuel Pascali, Kilmarnock's rambunctious Italian, harried his opponents into submission, hope of progressing further upfield was abandoned and the ball returned to sender.

His hawkish glance and visceral competitiveness was replicated by his comrades, of whom Jim Jefferies, the Kilmarnock manager, was full of praise. "The most pleasing aspect was that every player played well today," he said. "Pascali has great composure on the ball and doesn't waste many but when there is a ball to be won, invariably he wins it."

This was the first Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting between these two sides, although Kilmarnock were keen to make amends for a mauling at New Douglas Park last season. Of course, for the past two seasons, the Ayrshire men have been beset by an injury list the length of the M77 and with a frugal budget, nomination for relegation followed suit.

Yet, it is not quite working out that way. Kilmarnock are joint top of the league, unbeaten and yet to concede a goal in their opening three fixtures. "We said seven points out of nine would be a decent start to the season and we did it," said Jefferies.

Billy Reid, the Hamilton manager, described the game as a battle. "People say in the Premier League you get the ball down and pass it but I don't think that was the case today, there was tackles flying in all over the place," he said.

Jefferies dismissed the comments and insisted his team set out to play in an appealing fashion. "Billy Reid said it was a battle but we certainly did not set out to make it a battle. We were the team who got it down and passed it. Any football that was played was played by Kilmarnock," he said.

Pascali headed home a deserved winner from six yards in first half injury time rewarding a period of sustained pressure. Chances were scarce in the second half and with minutes left David Graham was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Pascal