Aberdeen 3 - 1 Kilmarnock

The 11,887 who turned up at Pittodrie today were treated to some entertaining football from Aberdeen. Those who stayed at home to watch an old film were the losers as the Dons produced a five star performance as they beat Kilmarnock 3-1. Two early goals through the impressive Chris Maguire and Barry Nicholson put the Dons on easy street. They continued to play impressive football and created many chances before substitute Lovell added a third in the 87th minute. The gloss was taken off when Naismith grabbed an undeserved consolation in the last minute, but if Aberdeen continue this sort of play then the fans will soon come flocking back.

Kilmarnock kicked off, but Aberdeen immediately won possession and forced their way forward. Aberdeen settled quickly and Maguire forced the first corner of the match in the fourth minute. The corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Chris Maguire was lurking and the seventeen year old had two efforts blocked before making a dream start a minute later. The youngster collected the ball on the edge of the box, cut inside and curled a lovely shot beyond Smith in the Kilmarnock goal. The red army were back on the feet three minutes later as the Dons doubled their advantage.

The visitor's were ripped apart down the middle and Mackie flicked the ball on to Nicholson who made no mistake in prodding the ball past Smith. Nicholson went close again two minutes later when he collected the ball on the edge of the box and bulleted the ball inches wide of the far post. Kilmarnock fought back and won a couple of corners amid some panicking in the Dons defence. At the other end Miller almost made it number three when his shot was blocked by Smith and the ball just failed to fall into the path of Mackie. A minute later Mackie should have scored when he fired wide from 12 yards.

Greer collected the first yellow card of the match after blocking Mackie and from the subsequent free kick Anderson poked the ball inches wide as the Dons looked to over run Kilmarnock. Aberdeen then won a free kick on the edge of the box in the 25th minute and young Chris Maguire went close with Smith scurrying across his goal. The Kilmarnock defence were at sixes and sevens on the half hour mark as Maguire found Mackie and Smith flapped at a all that failed to fall for Miller. Kilmarnock had settled after their shaky start, but Aberdeen were looking solid at the back.

A long free kick in the 38th minute found Anderson in space, but he couldn't steer the ball into the path of a teammate. The Dons intensified the pressure towards the interval and after flapping at another corner Smith got his body well behind a Nicholson strike. Nicholson then went close again in the 41st minute as his shot was blocked for another header. A quickly taken free kick a minute later saw Smith hold a weak shot from Clark. In the final minute Kilmarnock won a free kick and Aberdeen broke at pace with Maguire firing the ball inches wide.

A flick through in the 48th minute almost found Maguire but Greer did well to cushion the ball back to Smith. Two minutes later Mackie broke on the right but couldn't find Miller in the middle. Seconds later their were appeals for a spot kick when Severin went down in the box as he attempted to turn and shoot. Lilley was booked on the 54th minute, but the resulting free kick was wasted. A minute later Maguire forced another save from Smith before Severin forced a corner on the hour mark. Wales became the third booking in the 61st minute and a minute later Miller headed a corner on to the bar as they looked for a decisive third goal.

Aberdeen were denied by Smith in the 68th minute when a lovely flowing move was deserving of a goal. Maguire broke on the left and his cross was met by Nicholson who bulleted a header that was blocked by Smith low to his right. Anderson collected a deserved Yellow in the 72nd minute as Kilmarnock finally forced some pressure on the Dons. Four minutes later Nicholson had another effort blocked before Diamond replaced Anderson and Lovell replaced Maguire, with the youngster receiving a standing ovation.

With five minutes remaining Mackie had a good chance but fired wide then there was another penalty appeal as Clark went tumbling in the box, but the Dons are still looking for their first spot kick of the season. Aberdeen finally grabbed their third goal of the match when Smith could only parry a Miller shot and Lovell was in place to tap the ball into the net. Dempsey then replaced Clark with the game well won. Naismith took the gloss off the win with a last minute consolation before a ferocious Nicholson shot was blocked at the other end.

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Match Stats:

		Dons	Killie
Goal Attempts		14	2
On Target		8	1
Corners		7	3
Possession		62%	38%

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