KILMARNOCK 4 ABERDEEN 0
William Hill Premiership
Thursday 26th December 2024
Rugby Park
Ref: Callum Scott
Attendance: 6,846
It was a Boxing Day defeat for the Dons in Ayrshire as they were second best to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Jimmy Thelin made four changes to the Aberdeen side that lost 3-1 at home to Hibs last Saturday. Dimitar Mitov returned from injury and was joined in the side by Angus MacDonald, Duk and Peter Ambrose, making his first start for the Dons. Ross Doohan, Gavin Molloy, Ester Sokler and Leighton Clarkson all started from the bench.
Kilmarnock drew 1-1 at Motherwell last Friday, and Derek McInnes made three changes to their team, Robby McCrorie returning in goal, Danny Armstrong and Bobby Wales coming into the side with Kieran O’Hara and Bruce Anderson back on the bench and Marley Watkins out injured.
MacDonald was right in the thick of it from the off, an important tackle stopping a threatening Vassell charge after just two minutes. Mitov had an early feel of the ball too, clutching an Armstrong effort from out wide after four minutes. Killie should have been in front on seven minutes, Wright getting in front of Mitov at a corner but popping his header over the bar from three yards out.
Mitov produced a good save after 10 minutes, pushing a first time Watson shot behind after a good cross from Murray. Duk cleared a shot inside the six-yard box three minutes later after Wright had cleverly created space for his effort at a corner, the Dons struggling to get into the game. Next, Ambrose and Nicky Devlin combined well to clear a dangerous ball in from a free-kick on the Killie right after 17 minutes.
There was no stopping the hosts a minute later though. Murray curled in another enticing cross from their left into the six-yard box, Vassell sliding in between the Dons defenders and Mitov to get a first touch to control before poking the ball in from a couple of yards out.
That sparked Aberdeen to life, immediately winning a corner. It went long but the Dons worked it back into the box, Duk playing into Devlin’s path and his drive flashed just wide of the near post. On 23, Topi Keskinen burst through the middle before feeding Duk, who dragged his shot across goal and inches wide as the offside flag went up. Duk was on the charge himself after 26 minutes, chasing down the right, but his pull back was just behind Ambrose.
Wales was nearly in for 2-0 on 43, beating Mitov to a ball through, but as he rounded the goalkeeper, he couldn’t get beyond MacDonald and ultimately conceded a free-kick.
HALF-TIME: KILMARNOCK 1 ABERDEEN 0
The first action of the second half came in the opening minute, Sivert Heltne Nilsen collecting a sixth yellow card of the league season.
Mitov was in acrobatic action after 56 minutes to punch away a Murray effort from distance, the Killie winger drifting in from the Killie left to shoot, Wales heading an Armstrong cross over the bar a couple of minutes later.
It was 2-0 on 59 though, Watson making a determined run into the box to get in front of three defenders and poke in from three yards out from an Armstrong cross on their left, a similar goal to the opener.
Aberdeen made three changes straight away, Ante Palaversa, Shayden Morris and Leighton Clarkson replacing Heltne Nilsen, Ambrose and Keskinen. While they were still forming up, Kilmarnock should have made it three, Murray having time to pick his spot at the back post but thankfully, he pulled his shot wide of goal.
The Dons started to struggle with their discipline, Palaversa, Rubezic and McGrath all booked inside four minutes around the midway point of the half. Shinnie made way for Kevin Nisbet on 70 minutes.
Mitov had to produce an excellent stop low to his right in the 75th minute, a strong hand denying a fierce shot on the turn from Vassell as the Dons clung on to any hopes of getting back in the game. Vassell got another shot away on 81 minutes, MacDonald blocking it wide.
The home side replaced Wales, Armstrong, Polworth and Vassell with Cameron, Donnelly, Anderson and Magennis after 84 minutes. Three minutes later, it was 3-0, Cameron clipping the ball over Mitov after Murray played a clever ball in behind the Aberdeen defence. It was Murray’s last act of a day when he had proved to be too much for the Dons, as he was replaced by Bainbridge.
Duk came close to a consolation in the final minute of normal time, getting up to direct a header goalwards from Rubezic’s cross, McCrorie plucking the ball out of the air with ease.
Insult was added to injury in the third minute of added time though, Anderson poaching in the six-yard box as Cameron headed Donnelly centre back across goal to make it 4-0.
KILMARNOCK: McCrorie, Wright, Mayo, Ndaba, Armstrong (Donnelly 84), Lyons, Watson, Polworth (Magennis 84), Murray (Bainbridge 89), Vassell (Anderson 84), Wales (Cameron 84).
Subs not used: O’Hara, Burroughs, Mackay-Steven, McKenzie.
GOAL: Vassell (18), Watson (59), Cameron (87), Anderson (90+3)
ABERDEEN: Mitov, Devlin, MacDonald, Rubezic, MacKenzie, Shinnie (Nisbet 69), Heltne Nilsen (Palaversa 61), McGrath, Duk, Keskinen (Clarkson 61), Ambrose (Morris 61).
Subs Not Used: Doohan, Molloy, Sokler, Polvara, McGarry.
BOOKED: Heltne Nilsen, Palaversa, Rubezic, McGrath
