Killie asked the first question of a Dons defence again missing Kevin McNaughton when Garry Hay's free-kick found fit-again Ford - handed an immediate recall by Jefferies - but the Englishman was just unable to keep his effort under the bar.

The visitors took the lead in the 15th minute when Scott Severin's clipped free-kick was nodded back across goal by Considine and Anderson was there to head home from five yards.

The Scotland defender, who scored the Dons' goal in Killie's win at Pittodrie in August, was booked a couple of minutes later when he was adjudged to have handled an Allan Johnston through-ball.

From the free-kick, Boyd lashed a low drive which Dons goalkeeper Ryan Esson found too hot to handle and former Grimsby defender Simon Ford (right) had an easy task to head in the equaliser.

Killie then incredibly went from a goal down to one up within a minute when Boyd's backheel put Danny Invincibile (left) through and the Australian cleverly dinked the ball over Esson to give Jefferies' side the lead after 19 minutes.

Crawford should have brought the visitors level in the 24th minute but the Scotland striker wastefully bundled wide a fine cross from Mackie, who was deputising for the injured Steve Lovell.

As so often happens following a flurry of goals, the match then lapsed into a midfield battle with the visitors looking marginally more likely to strike next.

An overhead kick from Richie Byrne - after Killie had failed to properly clear a corner - which whistled over the bar and a Barry Nicholson snapshot from the edge of the box indicated Calderwood's men were far from dispirited at losing their lead so dramatically.

Despite finishing the first half the stronger of the two sides, Calderwood made his first  substitution at the interval when he replaced Considine with Chris Clark, who was fit again after breaking his foot a month ago.

But 80 seconds into the second period the Dons boss saw his side slump further behind when former Stranraer defender Frazer Wright caused Esson to flap at Johnston's cross and Kris Boyd was on hand to thump the ball high into the net and give his side a two-goal cushion.

Aberdeen thought they had pulled a goal back on 52 when Anderson bundled the ball home but their celebrations were short lived when they realised the assistant referee's flag was raised for offside.

In fact it was Killie who grabbed the next goal - and surely made certain of the three points - when Boyd side-footed home his second of the afternoon on 56 and seventh SPL goal of the season from an astute Invincibile cut-back.

Aberdeen gave themselves a lifeline on 71 when the otherwise anonymous Crawford cut in from the left and curled a beautiful shot into the far corner.

There was a suggestion that Scott Muirhead, on for Byrne, may have got a touch but it would be exceptionally harsh if the striker were denied the credit after such a fine effort.

The visitors were then given the perfect chance to really worry Killie when they were awarded a penalty for Hay's foul on Crawford - but Mackie's effort was brilliantly saved low down to his right by Graeme Smith.(above).

Jefferies made two changes in quick succession as the game entered the last 10 minutes, fit-again Colin Nish replacing Boyd and Gary Wales coming on for Naismith.

The visitors kept pushing for an unlikely point but Killie held on for an excellent two-goal win and a welcome three points

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