…as Dons claim back to back wins

Aberdeen played the better football, but found themselves behind after losing a freak goal in the third minute. A corner was half cleared and Rae slipped allowing Harkins a shot at goal. Langfield made a fine save, but his parry bounced off the knee of ex-Don Ryan O’Leary and looped into the net. Aberdeen made the perfect start to the second half as top scorer Gavin Rae was put through one-on-one with the keeper and calmly finished after the home defence went to sleep. Langfield then released Fraser with a long throw. The young winger went racing down the left wing, delivered a great cross for McGinn and the striker made no mistake with his header. Vernon put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute when he combined well with McGinn to make it 3-1.

Kilmarnock kicked off and the Dons created the first chance in the opening minute when McGinn latched on to the ball, but fired over when he should have tested the keeper. Aberdeen were quickly punished as the home side broke up field and won a corner. There followed a bizarre goal when the ball was half cleared and Rae slipped allowing Harkins a shot at goal. Langfield made a fine save, but his parry bounced off the knee of ex-Don Ryan O’Leary and looped over Jamie and into the net. The goal could only be described as a fluke. Aberdeen didn’t dwell on their misfortune, but continued competing as they tried to get on level terms.

Fraser was once again causing problems and he had a shot deflected before setting up Vernon with a header, but the effort was straight at the keeper. At the other end Kilmarnock threatened from a free kick in the 15th minute, but the Dons managed to usher the ball out of play. The match was flowing from end to end and Aberdeen won their first corner of the match in the 18th minute, but Fraser’s delivery was too close to the keeper. Two minutes later a free kick in a good area was wasted by Hughes then O’Leary earned the first yellow of the game when he upended Ryan Fraser. From the resultant free kick the keeper spilled Fraser’s delivery, but the ball fell to a home defender and the chance was cleared. In between there were loud shouts for hand ball in the box when a Fraser shot appeared to be blocked by an arm, but nothing doing.

Aberdeen were starting to dictate play as Hughes took control in the middle and Fraser started seeing more of the ball. McGinn produced some good play in the 28th minute, but he then attempted an optimistic finish with the outside of his foot when a pass might have been wiser. The ex-Celtic player did better on the half hour mark, but his cross was scrambled away by the Kilmarnock defence. Aberdeen went close again in the 37th minute when a McGinn delivery went across the face of the goal, but there were no takers in the middle. A minute later Rae was set up by Fraser and McGinn, but the midfielder rifled his effort wide of the target. Hughes, was booked then had a chance to level late on, but sent his effort high.

Aberdeen made the perfect start to the second half as top scorer Gavin Rae was put through one-on-one with the keeper and calmly finished after the home defence went to sleep. The home side almost hit back immediately, but Langfield made a comfortable save. Langfield was called into action again two minutes later to deny Dayton then Fraser picked up a knock, but returned after treatment. Rae was causing problems again in the 51st minute, but delayed his cross and found Vernon in an offside position. An error from Anderson put Jack in trouble and the youngster was booked when he took Sheridan down on the edge of the box. Langfield made a good save from the free kick to keep the Dons level.

In the 55th minute Langfield was forced into another save before quickly releasing Fraser with a long ball. The young winger went racing down the left wing, delivered a great cross for McGinn and the striker made no mistake with his header. Nelson went close on the hour mark when the ball fell to him in the Aberdeen box, but he drilled the ball inches wide. At the other end McGinn forced a fine save from the keeper as his stinging effort was tipped over the bar. A Considine cross in the 66th minute eluded everyone and two minutes later the Dons won another corner, but couldn’t capitalise. A Fraser free kick was blocked and McGinn then had a chance, but got his header all wrong as the Dons looked to try and kill off this game.

Kelly was cautioned in the 72nd for a poor challenge on Fraser as the youngster was running at pace. The resultant free kick was deflected off the wall and eventually cleared by the home side. Fraser was on fire now and another wicked cross was headed inches over by Vernon. Fraser was given a deserved standing ovation when he was replaced by Hayes in the 77th minute. Two minutes later Magennis replaced Rae as Jack moved into midfield. Vernon was unlucky not to make it three in the 85th minute when he got in front of the keeper and lobbed the ball over both keeper and bar. At the other end Langfield dealt well with a shot before a second free kick was conceded on the edge of the Dons box. Fortunately that effort went well over.

Vernon then secured the points in the 90th minute when he combined well with McGinn to make it 3-1 for the Dons. Moments later Jordan Brown made his competitive debut when he replaced McGinn. This was probably the finest performance of the season and a well-deserved three points that sees Aberdeen move up to third spot in the table. The international break probably comes at the worst possible time, but the Dons will be confident ahead of their visit to Tannadice in two weeks.