Aberdeen 4 - 1 Kilmarnock

There were two changes for Jim Goodwin's side after the defeat at Easter Road. In came Marley Watkins, for his first start of the season, and Matty Kennedy, replacing Duk, who began on the bench, and the suspended Liam Scales. Dylan Lobban was on the bench for the first time.

Returning to Pittodrie for the first time as Kilmarnock boss, Derek McInnes made four changes from the side beaten 1-0 at Livingston before the break. Ash Taylor, Oli Shaw, Brad Lyons and Jordan Jones all came into the starting XI in place of Jeriel Dorsett, Danny Armstrong, Rory McKenzie and Ryan Alebiosu.

The Dons started positively, playing the opening minutes in Kilmarnock's half of the pitch without being able to open up the visitors at first. It was Killie who got the game's first corner though in the seventh minute, a diving header from Anthony Stewart averting any danger.

The Dons reciprocated two minutes later, Jonny Hayes taking it from the right side. Bojan Miovski was on the ground as the ball came in, tangling with Mayo, but nothing was given.

A swift break from Killie caused a few flutters in the 16th minute, Watkins tracking back to mop things up on the edge of the box and spring an Aberdeen attack. That eventually brought a free-kick down the right, Hayden Coulson firing over the ball after Hayes' ball in was half cleared. Jones was yellow carded a minute later, hauling Coulson down as he was on the charge forward.

Aberdeen picked up the pace from there, keeping Kilmarnock penned in, but they defended stoutly and in numbers to deny the Dons space. But on 22 minutes, the goal came for Vinnie Besuijen. A Hayes cross caused danger, Taylor stretching to block. As the ball squirted towards the edge of the box, it was Besuijen who was fastest to it, sprinting forward and tucking the ball past Hemming.

There was no let up because two minutes later, there was a Dons penalty. Watkins chased a long ball into the box, Hemming coming out to block, but as the ball spun away off him, Miovski was on to it quickly, the goalkeeper clipping him as he tried to turn away from him with the ball. Miovski stepped up to take, sent Hemming the wrong way and planted the ball just inside the post for 2-0.

Kilmarnock didn't take it lying down though, for on 27 minutes, Taylor brought his side back into the game, getting clear at a corner to plant his fine header across goal and into the far corner beyond the dive of Kelle Roos who had no chance.

Good play from Jayden Richardson and Besuijen set Miovski up 25 yards out, but his left footed drive flew over the bar on 35 minutes as the Dons settled again.

Richardson then gave the ball away some 20 yards out from his own goal, Polworth smacking a drive at goal but fortunately he put it too close to Roos to cause any problems. Watkins was booked in the 38th minute for a late tackle on halfway.

On the brink of the break, it was three for the Dons, created by the driving pace of Coulson down the left. Breaking into the box and pushing the ball towards the by-line, he looked third favourite as Taylor and Hemming converged on the ball, but Coulson won it and squeezed the ball back across goal to the near post. Miovski swooped upon it, Wright blocking the first effort, but Miovski was onto the rebound, dinking it into the far corner.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 3 KILMARNOCK 1

The Dons got away with one on 48 minutes, Roos dallying over the ball 25 yards out and having his clearance charged down by Doidge. He advanced to the by-line and squared the ball, Ross McCrorie doing well to get to the ball first to clear as Polworth looked set to score.

Taylor was in the book on 51 minutes as he brought a mazy Kennedy run to an end some 25 yards out. Kennedy stepped up to take the free-kick, but could only put it into the wall. The Dons were content to contain Killie in the early part of the half, just ensuring they gave them no encouragement.

Coulson picked up the pace on the hour, shimmying into the box before firing off a shot from a tight angle which Hemming parried away at his near post. Three minutes later though, it was Anthony Stewart who was on target, this time beating Hemming to make it 4-1. From a Hayes corner on the right, the skipper made a driving run towards the near post to get free, thumping his brilliant header down and in.

Kilmarnock responded with a triple change, Cameron, McKenzie and Armstrong on for Doidge, Jones and Lyons, before, on 67 minutes, Shayden Morris and Duk replaced Watkins and Miovski. Three minutes later, Alston replaced Polworth as the paperwork mounted up for the officials.

The Dons kept Killie penned into their own territory without really threatening, but it was a textbook example of how to see out a lead with the absolute minimum of fuss. Jack Milne, Chrstian Ramirez and Ryan Duncan were all on with ten minutes left, Kennedy, Besuijen and Hayes replaced. Killie brought on Warnock for Power.

Ramirez wasn't far away from making an instant impact, turning into space and smashing a lot shot at goal from 20 yards. Hemming down well to his right to save. Ramirez then set Morris on his way in the final minute with a fine pass, but the return cutback never came. Four goals was plenty in the end though.