Match ends, Kilmarnock 0, Aberdeen 4.
Scottish Premiership: Kilmarnock 0-4 Aberdeen
By Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Scotland at Rugby Park
- From the section Football
Aberdeen moved to within a point of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a comprehensive victory over a poor Kilmarnock.
Niall McGinn scored early with a close-range header from Kenny McLean's cross, before Adam Rooney notched his 50th Dons goal with a header of his own.
Johnny Hayes made it 3-0 right after the restart, and Shay Logan rolled home goal number four.
Kilmarnock offered little and have now gone seven matches without a win.
This was a 57th league win for Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes in his 100th league match in charge.
Kilmarnock remain second bottom of the table and look destined for a grim fight against relegation.
Aberdeen were first to threaten. A back heel effort from Ash Taylor was well blocked by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.
The home side immediately counter attacked resulting in an Aaron Splaine cross for Josh Magennis, but his header flew just wide of the post.
Aberdeen had the swirling wind at their backs and it possibly helped play a part in the opening goal. McLean curled a ball into the box which found the head of McGinn who made no mistake from close-range.
The Aberdeen dominance continued as McLean almost made it 2-0, but his shot hit the bar from Graeme Shinnie's cross.
Rooney would soon make it 2-0 with a firm header from a McGinn cross and reach the half century of goals for the club.
Within 20 seconds of the restart it was 3-0. McLean again the supplier, and this time Hayes was the scorer firing home from six yards.
Kilmarnock continued to offer little in the final third as Aberdeen took their foot off the gas, though there was still enough in the tank for a sublime fourth goal.
Peter Pawlett guided a back heel into the path of Logan who calmly placed his shot into the corner of the net.
Tope Obadeyi fired over the bar but this was another morale sapping day for the home fans, while Aberdeen have reignited the title race.
Line-ups
Kilmarnock
- 21MacDonald
- 2Barbour
- 6Connolly
- 26Balatoni
- 5Findlay
- 4HamillSubstituted forSlaterat 37'minutes
- 3SmithBooked at 23minsSubstituted forObadeyiat 63'minutes
- 28Magennis
- 17SplaineBooked at 55mins
- 23Kiltie
- 9BoydSubstituted forMcKenzieat 51'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ridgers
- 7McKenzie
- 8Robinson
- 14O'Hara
- 16Obadeyi
- 19Slater
- 39Frizzell
Aberdeen
- 19Ward
- 2Logan
- 5Taylor
- 18QuinnBooked at 32mins
- 3Shinnie
- 8Flood
- 22JackSubstituted forSmithat 74'minutes
- 11Hayes
- 7McLean
- 10McGinnSubstituted forPawlettat 78'minutes
- 9RooneySubstituted forGoodwillieat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 14Smith
- 16Pawlett
- 17Goodwillie
- 20Brown
- 23Storie
- 26McKenna
- 29Harvie
- Referee:
- Steven McLean
- Attendance:
- 3,928
Match Stats
Home TeamKilmarnockAway TeamAberdeen
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away6
- Corners
- Home1
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, Aberdeen 4.
Foul by Cameron Smith (Aberdeen).
Craig Slater (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Conrad Balatoni.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Stuart Findlay.
Foul by Willo Flood (Aberdeen).
Craig Slater (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cameron Smith (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. David Goodwillie replaces Adam Rooney.
Attempt missed. Tope Obadeyi (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Goal!
Goal! Kilmarnock 0, Aberdeen 4. Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Peter Pawlett with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Peter Pawlett replaces Niall McGinn.
Attempt missed. Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Attempt saved. Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Niall McGinn (Aberdeen).
Mark Connolly (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Aaron Splaine (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Cameron Smith replaces Ryan Jack.
Attempt missed. Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Greg Kiltie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen).
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Greg Kiltie (Kilmarnock).
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Tope Obadeyi replaces Steven Smith.
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Paul Quinn.
Foul by Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen).
Steven Smith (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Rooney (Aberdeen).
Stuart Findlay (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Aaron Splaine (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ryan Jack (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Aaron Splaine (Kilmarnock).
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Craig Slater (Kilmarnock).
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Rory McKenzie replaces Kris Boyd.
Attempt missed. Greg Kiltie (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
