ABERDEEN 1 KILMARNOCK 0 Saturday 25 April 2026 SPFL Premiership Pittodrie Attendance: Referee: Nick Walsh A first minute goal and a second straight clean sheet at Pittodrie were enough to see the Dons moving eight points clear of the danger zone, a huge win for Aberdeen. Following the 2-0 win over Hibs before the split, there was just one change for the Dons, Mitchel Frame replacing the injured Emmanuel Gyamfi. After picking up both Player of the Year awards in midweek, Mats Knoester was back on the bench following his injury sustained in the fixture at Rugby Park in January. Dennis Geiger was also on the bench after injury, Kjartan Kjartansson and Nicolas Milanovic both missing out. Kilmarnock drew 2-2 at home to Dundee in their final game before the split, and they made two changes, former Dons Kelle Roos and Bruce Anderson dropping to the bench, Max Stryjek and Nicky Clescenco replacing them. It was the perfect start for Aberdeen, hitting the front after just 55 seconds. Frame’s throw found Jack Milne at the by-line in the box. He held the ball up and passed to Stuart Armstrong on the edge of the area. His clever first time lay off was into the path of Afeez Aremu and his low drive found its way past Stryjek and into the net for 1-0. A minute later, Brandon went down injured and despite lengthy treatment, he had to make way for Thompson. The Dons were looking sharp in the opening exchanges, keeping Killie pressed deep into their own territory. Frame in particular was having plenty of joy down the left, the side producing some lovely passing football through the pitch, but Aberdeen couldn’t quite fashion another big chance. Having offered nothing previously, Killie were almost on terms on 23 minutes, a free-kick from the left finding the head of Tshibola. It looked for all the world a goal until Dimitar Mitov produced a magnificent save to push the ball onto the bar, Hugill nodding the rebound onto the roof of the net. Toyosi Olusanya was on his way towards goal in the 28th minute, collecting a neat pass from Kevin Nisbet, but as he reached the area, Stanger swooped down with a fine saving tackle to deny him. More good play from Aberdeen kept the pressure on, Lyall Cameron eventually taking a shot in the 32nd minute, the ball deflected wide of the target. Killie had a chance after 37 minutes, a corner pulled back to the edge of the area, Lowery getting under the ball and depositing it in the RDS. HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 KILMARNOCK 0 The Dons threatened to repeat the fast start to the first half in the second, Armstrong’s corner finding Milne at the back post in the opening minute, but he couldn’t control his header and he put it over the bar. Killie responded on the counter and in the 50th minute, Mitov had to be sharp to clutch a dangerous shot from Clescenco. It was straight back up the other end and Olusanya volleyed just over as he met Alexander Jensen’s lob into the box on the turn. The Dons made their first changes after 58 minutes, Graeme Shinnie and Dennis Geiger replacing Frame and Cameron. Tshibola should have levelled it up a minute later, Clescenco flighting a cross into the near post. The Killie man got to it first but from close range, he put his header against the bar and over, a real let off for Aberdeen. Stanger was the first man to be booked, the card coming after 64 minutes for pulling down Olusanya as he looked to sprint towards goal on the counter-attack. Mitov was in action two minutes later, a lovely pass from Thompson getting Kiltie in behind. He struck his shot from just outside the area but Mitov was down quickly to save. Lowery followed his colleague into the book in the 67th minute for a crunching challenge on Aremu. Larsen was replaced by McKenzie as Aremu was getting treatment. The bar saved the Dons for a third time in the 71st minute, a dangerous ball curling in from Kiltie on the Killie right. Milne flung himself at it to get in front of an opponent, his diving header flying past Mitov but back into play off the bar. There was another double change immediately afterwards, Knoester returning to the fray along with Ante Palaversa, Armstrong and Aremu making way. The visitors made their final changes in the 77th minute, Magennis and Anderson on for Clescenco and Kiltie. Deas was the third Kilmarnock man to be booked a minute later for clattering into Geiger. From the free-kick, Milne’s header was destined for the top corner until Stryjek clawed the ball to safety. From the corner that followed, Killie looked to clear their lines, Milne taking the ball full in the face. He took time out for treatment and was then replaced by Elvis Bwomono in a concussion substitution. Lyons and Watson replaced Curtis and Lowery on 84. Olusanya made way for Topi Keskinen in the 87th minute. Liam Morrison was booked for barging into Stryjek two minutes later. Magennis then followed him in for a high tackle on Jensen. Shinnie looked to seal it in the 94th minute, a swerving shot from 25 yards well handled by Stryjek. Shinnie then won a trademark free-kick on halfway to see the final seconds ebb away, the Dons clinching a vital victory. STATS Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Milne (Bwomono 81), Morrison, Molloy, Frame (Shinnie 58), Armstrong (Knoester 72), Aremu (Palaversa 72), Cameron (Geiger 59), Olusanya (Keskinen 87), Nisbet.
Subs not used: Bratveit, Lazetic, Lobban.
Goal: Aremu (1) Booked: Morrison
Kilmarnock: Stryjek, Brandon (Thompson 4), Stanger, Deas, Larsen (McKenzie 67), Kiltie (Anderson 77), Lowery (Lyons 84), Tshibola, Curtis (Watson 84), Clescenco (Magennis 77), Hugill.
Subs not used: Roos, Williams, Mayo.
Booked: Stanger, Lowery, Deas, Magennis
