73 mins
Elvis
left the building with much to occupy his mind.
Despite Saturday's 1-0 victory at Motherwell,
Falkirk begin the week three points off 11th
place, and safety.
There are six more cup finals to come, but
this was a perfect response to a Saturday which
had caused considerable discomfort for those
with Kilmarnock at heart. Craig Brown,
Motherwell manager and Ayrshire resident,
received some good-natured flak in the main
stand yesterday after his side had suffered that
surprise home defeat at the hands of Falkirk.
The result pitched Kilmarnock back into grave
trouble, and Brown – working at the game as a
radio summariser – was made aware that the
impact of his team's loss was felt as far away
as Rugby Park. Similarly, this win will deflate
Falkirk and St Mirren, two sides also haunted by
relegation concerns but who had briefly earned
some respite with positive results a day
earlier.
Killie's win reinstated their 4 point cushion over basement club Falkirk & consigned Aberdeen to the bottom six of the SPL for the first time in six years, having secured just one win from their last 13 matches.
Killie made four changes, with Garry Hay, Danny Invincibile, Mehdi Taouil and Jamie Fowler coming into the starting line-up.
Almost immediately, Aberdeen were on the hunt for a goal with Fyvie sending in a searching corner that Grassi nodded wide of the mark.
Kilmarnock's Frazer Wright lasted barely two minutes before being hobbling off with a pulled hamstring, Jamie Hamill replacing him.
Mark Kerr tried to find the net with a cheeky lob from outside the box after Killie keeper Cammy Bell had punched clear, but the ball inched over the bar and the hosts' blushes were spared.
A poorly-timed effort from Killie striker Kevin Kyle whistled out of the park in the 21st minute, then Aluko was denied by a fine save by Bell at the other end.
The
stalemate was broken in the 25th minute when Severin
blasted in from close range and Grassi deflected the
ball into the back of his own net to hand Killie the
opener.
Russell could have doubled Killie's lead with a glancing header shortly after hour mark, and the former Airdrie man followed it up two minuets later with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that Jamie Langfield struggled to contain.
Severin had another effort at the Killie goal from just outside the box as the interval approached, but it inched wide of the mark, then Aberdeen's Zander Diamond struck an injury-time effort straight at Bell.
Shortly after the restart, Michael Paton turned on the 18 yard line and struck first time for goal, his curling effort inching past Bell's left-hand post.
The match turned into a more scrappy affair, with both sides niggling at each other the Dons picking up their share of cautions.
Langfield pounced on a Conor Sammon header from six yards out as the hour mark approached, then a Ricky Foster run fizzled out when Fowler blocked the final ball.
Mackie could have levelled for Aberdeen in the 66th minute, despite appearing to be in an offside position, but his feeble header was easily collected by Bell.
A neatly-worked combination between Kyle and
Taouil almost paid dividends when the big striker
broke free and out-jumped the Aberdeen defence, but
his header lacked power.
Allan Russell sealed the win for the hosts with 16 minutes remaining after he latched on to a searching Fowler ball and delivered a superb looping header back across the face of the Aberdeen goal & into the top of the net.
The roar from the Kilmarnock fans made it seem as
though twice the recorded attendance had clicked
through the Rugby Park turnstiles. It was a sound
shot through with relief, although there is still
much to be achieved before they can reflect on a job
well done.
Moments later, Tim Clancy denied Mackie from
close range at the other end.
A late header from Kyle was cleared off the Aberdeen line and Bell was at full-stretch to tip over a Mackie effort as the match headed towards the final whistle - and three well-earned points for Kilmarnock.
Sandy's Match Pic's are HERE
