Aberdeen took the lead after 54 minutes after Jamie Fowler knocked the ball into his own net from six yards following Steve Tosh's excellent run and cross.

Tosh had replaced illness victim Markus Heikkinen in the Dons midfield, while Richard Foster benefited by last weekend's injury to Zander Diamond, against an unchanged Kilmarnock.

Aberdeen ought to have taken an early lead when Kevin McNaughton's mis-hit drive found its way to Steven Craig at the back post, but the striker's shot hit the outside of the post.

A Foster drive was pushed on to the post by goalkeeper Alan Combe.

Killie were on the back foot, but Kris Boyd's header picked out strike partner Danny Invincibile unmarked at the back post only for the Australian to slice his effort well wide.

Derek Adams missed another chance to give Aberdeen the lead when he was put through by Michael Hart's long ball, but he rattled the shot straight off the legs of Combe, who had been slow to come off his line.

Injury-jinxed Killie midfielder Gary Locke was stretchered off and taken to hospital after 36 minutes following a bad head knock.

Aberdeen came close to breaking the deadlock when Tosh's shot from the tightest of angles was deflected into the side-netting by substitute Stephen Murray.

The visitors did take the lead nine minutes after the break, thanks to a helping hand from Killie's Jamie Fowler.

Boyd headed just wide of the Aberdeen post as Jimmy Calderwood's side appeared to sit back on their lead.

Boyd's flick was met by Invincibile and he looked certain to bundle over from a few yards out, but Aberdeen goalkeeper David Preece raced off his line to block.

The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Tosh took the ball past three players to the by-line before driving the ball across the face of goal and Fowler sent the ball into his own net.

Killie could have been back on level terms soon after but Boyd's curling shot dropped just over the crossbar and the young striker also headed wide from six yards.

Home substitute Craig Dargo could have made an immediate impact on the game when he collected a McDonald cross in the box only to bullet the shot off the legs of Craig.

Aberdeen almost extended their lead when midfielder Scott Severin unleashed an impressive volley that produced another good save from Alan Combe.

It just was'nt to be Killie's day!

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler (Dargo 74 mins), Lilley, Dindeleux, Dillon, Invincibile, Locke (Murray 32 mins), McDonald, Johnston, Dodds, Boyd (Wales 78 mins),

Subs: Smith, Joly, Greer & Leven

Attendance: 6,686

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