Killie picked up their 5th point at Pittodrie, after a win and 2
draws up there. A drastic improvement over the 04-05 season, where
Killie endured three 1 goal defeats to the Dons!
Also Killie's remarkable record of not losing to the seven teams below
them in the SPL, remained intact!
Both sides cancelled each other out in a first half of few chances
before Scott Severin's deflected free-kick struck the post amid a flurry
of Dons' pressure.
But Kilmarnock threatened to sneak a winner in the latter stages as
they remained two points ahead of the Dons.
The odds were stacked in favour of the Dons, unbeaten at Pittodrie
since December, which was the month Killie last won away.
Killie took the game to the Dons, with Danny Invincibile and Steven
Naismith making good runs down each flank in the opening minutes without
finding a quality cross.
Crawford had the first shot on goal in the seventh minute after a good
passing move but Alan Combe comfortably caught his first-time effort
from the edge of the box.
Naismith had Killie's first strike at goal in the 15th minute but his
shot on the run sailed high and wide after Gary Wales had laid off a
throw into the box.
Aberdeen left-back Chris Clark tried his luck from 25 yards after
linking with Crawford but the ball sailed over.
Moments later Invincibile curled the ball just wide from the edge of
the box after Russell Anderson had stopped Naismith's superb run forward
with a crucial sliding tackle.
At the other end, Combe pulled off an excellent fingertip save to tip
over Gary Dempsey's 20-yard volley which deflected off James Fowler's
boot.
Jamie Smith won a free-kick 25 yards from the Killie goal but his
shot deflected high and wide off Crawford's head.
And the Dons striker then saw a 25-yard low drive saved by Combe after
good work up the left.
Invincibile broke down the right on the counter-attack but Colin Nish
was just too far behind his low cross and Jamie Langfield gathered.
The home fans began to show their frustration as another move broke
down on the edge of the Killie box.
Nicholson's free-kick from the left almost had them off their seats
when Combe fell over but the ball swung beyond the far post.
In a scrappy start to the second half, Combe had to tip over an
inswinging Smith free-kick which got caught in the strong wind.
Kilmarnock defender Simon Ford was stretchered off after a strong tackle
on Ferne Snoyle with Lindsay Wilson entering the fray and Gordon Greer
moving inside from right-back.
Much of the play was inside the visitors' half now but Johnston found
room on the edge of the Aberdeen box only for Langfield to smother his
low drive.
Smith found space 25 yards from the Kilmarnock goal in the 55th
minute and Combe did well to push away his bouncing left-foot strike.
Langfield was relieved to see Johnston's 45-yard shot drift wide
after his attempt to set up a counter-attack bounced off a retreating
player with the keeper stranded.
The hosts won a free-kick 20 yards out when Wilson caught Snoyle late
and Scott Severin's low strike deflected off the wall and spun onto the
post and away to safety.
Kilmarnock were under intense pressure now as the Dons sent the ball
into the box whenever they could and Combe did well to beat away
Anderson's powerful strike from 20 yards.
The visitors emerged from their defensive shell as the game entered
the final quarter and Nish glanced a header a couple of feet wide from
Garry Hay's right-wing free-kick.
Greer was the first man booked for going through the back of Severin,
who had been pushed forward along with Nicholson's replacement Darren
Mackie.
The Ayrshire men almost worked an opening in the box with Wilson
making an impressive foray forward.
Mackie was booked for a late tackle on Naismith as Killie threatened
to sneak a winner.
A deep corner from Johnston was headed back in by Frazer Wright but
Naismith stabbed it inches wide.
With three minutes left, Naismith burst on to Nish's header down but
his shot from 18 yards flew into Langfield's arms.
Fixtures & Results
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League Table
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JJ's Comments
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Season Diary