Aberdeen started positively, pushing Kilmarnock back into their own
territory, with Sone Aluko and Young on either wing giving the visiting
full-backs a torrid time.
I
t was Aluko who attempted the first shot on goal in the eighth
minute when he collected a quick free-kick from Nicholson and fired the
ball just past Combe's near post.
The away side were under pressure and when Tim Clancy then cynically
pulled back Young, the first caution of the afternoon was brandished by
referee William Collum.
A second followed shortly afterwards as Miller was adjudged to have
dived in the Kilmarnock penalty area after coming into contact with
Frazer Wright.
While there was definitely no offence committed by the defender on
that occasion, Lee Mair was far more fortunate in the 16th minute when
he appeared to bring down Colin Nish, possibly just inside the Aberdeen
18-yard-box.
But
referee Collum waived play on, much to Kilmarnock's frustration, which
only increased when Nish headed wide from close range while in an
offside position.
The visitors' mood improved dramatically, though, when David
Fernandez met Fowler's cross to head home, for his first goal of
the season.
The Dons' immediate response to that set-back was tame, with Miller
heading over from Nicholson's corner as Combe looked on unconcerned.
However, Combe was called into action eight minutes before the
interval as a rejuvenated Aberdeen threatened again, with a Chris
Maguire shot flicked up into the air by the Kilmarnock keeper and
cleared by Jamie Hamill.
Miller then tried to turn in a cross from Richard Foster but was
denied by Combe, who could only watch on as Wright's clearance from
Young's cross carried just over his crossbar.
But the Ayrshire club survived that scare and took a single-goal lead
into the break, when Aberdeen decided to replace Aluko and Maguire with
Scott Severin and Steve Lovell.
Neither replacement made an immediate impact as Kilmarnock continued
to look resolute at the back, determined in midfield and sprightly up
front.
Chris Clark was eventually afforded a sight of goal in the 58th
minute but he was quickly closed down by three Kilmarnock players,
including Danny Invincibile who clattered into the Aberdeen midfielder,
forcing both to hobble off the field for treatment.
But, out of nothing, the Dons were gifted an equaliser as O'Leary
conceded a penalty by fouling Miller and Nicholson confidently placed
the ball into the net with his right foot.
Buoyed by that goal, Aberdeen pushed forward and when Hart advanced
unchallenged, he passed to Young and from the midfielder's delivery,
Miller powered a header past Combe from close range.
Kilmarnock showed commendable attitude in the closing stages as they
tried to save a point, but the closest they came was in injury-time with
the last opportunity of the game as substitute Ryan Jarvis shot wide
from an acute angle.
26
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