Aberdeen 1 - 0 Kilmarnock

Returning to Pittodrie after the international break, Derek McInnes opted to field the same starting XI from the impressive 1-0 win at Easter Road two weeks earlier. Indeed, the only change in the entire matchday 20 was the inclusion of Bruce Anderson at the expense of Ronald Hernández on the bench.

Having signed off for the break with their first win of the season, 4-0 over Dundee United, Kilmarnock boss Alex Dyer made just a single change with Ross Millen returning from suspension and coming in for Zeno Ibsen Rossi who dropped to the bench.

The visitors made a sharp start, keeping the Dons penned in and winning a couple of early corners, neither of which came to anything as Aberdeen defended well. From there, the hosts began to settle and started moving the ball about more crisply.

Scott Wright cleverly won a corner in the 10th minute, after a good run into the box to collect a ball from Matty Kennedy. Ryan Hedges' corner from the right caused real danger, former Aberdeen keeper Danny Rogers going sprawling to punch the ball away from underneath the bar.

Ross McCrorie was on the mark in the 16th minute with a wonderful team goal from the Dons. Jonny Hayes' header into Marley Watkins enabled him to set Wright on his way down the left. With Watkins making a decoy run into the box, that allowed Wright to pick his pass into McCrorie, running into the area from deep. The pass was weighted perfectly to allow McCrorie to guide a lovely left foot finish across Rogers and inside the far post with a first time shot.

Another impressive move from the Dons ended with Lewis Ferguson pulling a shot wide across goal from the edge of the area on the 19th minute as Aberdeen's football really started to flow, much to the delight of the Red Battalion in the stand.

There was a nasty looking collision between McCrorie and Broadfoot in the centre circle in the 29th minute, both needing treatment from their respective physios. Fortunately, both were able to get back to their feet, albeit limping heavily at first. Killie then produced their first real threat in the 32nd minute, Joe Lewis down to his right sharply to tip Kiltie's shot round the near post. Two minutes later, Burke's free-kick from the left touchline saw Lewis pluck the ball out of the air to snuff out the danger.

Wright had to produce some good defensive work to head the ball behind at the back post when under real pressure from Waters, Andrew Considine doing likewise with a good block on Burke moments later as Killie roused themselves again as the half came towards its close.

The Dons had the last break though, McCrorie on the chase for a ball from Hedges, Broadfoot coming across with a vital block to deny him and to keep Killie in the game, taking another knock in the process.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 KILMARNOCK 0

Killie brought on Dikamona for the ailing Broadfoot at the break, the Dons staying as they were. Kabamba collected the first yellow card in the 50th minute for going right through Ferguson near the halfway line.

The tempo of the game dropped a little at the start of the second half giving Kilmarnock some encouragement, but the Dons picked things up as we approached the hour mark, Considine twice having a shot blocked from a corner.

Hayes was next into the action, cutting inside before unleashing a powerful right footer from 20 yards, Rogers producing a good save to push the ball over in the 63rd minute. Two minutes later, Killie withdrew Burke and Brophy for Pinnock and McKenzie. McKenzie was swiftly into the action, breaking down the right and pulling the ball back, Kiltie given the ball in space, Tommie Hoban doing well to deflect his shot wide in the 70th minute as Killie started to offer a proper threat.

Aberdeen should have had their second a minute later, a lovely ball from Watkins getting Wright in behind the defenders. A nice first touch took him into the box only to poke his shot past Rogers but inches wide of the post. It was almost costly, Killie breaking down their left, Scott McKenna somehow clearing the ball from virtually off the line and over the bar from a shot by McKenzie, a terrific clearance.

Shay Logan became Aberdeen's first change, on for Matty Kennedy in the 76th minute, then Whitehall replaced Waters three minutes later. The visitors carved out a fine chance for Dikamona, stretching into the six-yard box to get on the end of a low cross from Kiltie, only to balloon the ball over the bar under pressure from Hoban, a let off for the Dons as Killie really began to press for a leveller.

Hedges and McCrorie were next to be replaced, by Dylan McGeouch and Niall McGinn in the 81st minute, Ash Taylor on for Wright six minutes later. Shortly after, a mesmerising run from Hayes saw him turn three defenders inside out before trying to bend the ball into the far corner, Rogers making another super save at full stretch to tip the ball around the post.

Killie made a fifth change in the final minute of normal time, Dikamona limping off to be replaced by Ibsen Rossi. The Dons almost sealed it in the 92nd minute, a great corner from McGinn reaching Hoban at the back post but he turned the ball just over despite being clearly held down by a defender. In the end, it was immaterial, the Dons making it a fifth straight win and a third clean sheet in a row to boot.