Kilmarnock piled more misery on Aberdeen as a disputed penalty helped
the Ayrshire side claim a comfortable Clydesdale Bank Premier League
triumph at Rugby Park.
Jamie Hamill put the game beyond the Dons early in the second period
after Israeli referee Eli Hacmon ruled that Jamie Langfield had brought
down Alexei Eremenko.
Aberdeen complained but there was little doubt about who were the
better team following Conor Sammon's opening goal.
Snow had been cleared off the park before kick-off but there was a
light dusting in some areas and several players lost their footing in
the opening moments.
Both sides struggled to piece together any meaningful spells of
possession with even the normally impressive Alexei Eremenko wayward
with a number of long-range passes.
Hacmon strolled through the initial stages without controversy and
there was little dispute about the free-kick decision that led to
Kilmarnock's 18th-minute opener.
Jerel Ifil slid in recklessly on Conor Sammon to allow Eremenko an
opportunity to shoot from 20 yards.
The Finn's curling effort did not appear immediately threatening but
Jamie Langfield spilled the ball and Sammon won the race to slide home
the rebound.
Killie experienced an initial lift before Aberdeen began to produce
some sustained passing, but the only time Cammy Bell was troubled was
when he had to punch away Sone Aluko's corner from underneath his
crossbar.
Eremenko threatened again with an enterprising run finished off with
a chip that just lofted over the bar and Aluko got in the way when Paul
Hartley looked like getting Aberdeen's first shot on target.
Hacmon issued his first yellow card in the 37th minute for Andy
Considine's poor challenge on Mehdi Taouil and even received some polite
ripples of applause as he made his way off at half-time.
The referee's quiet afternoon was shattered four minutes after the
break when he was faced with a difficult decision when Eremenko went
down under Langfield's challenge in the box.
Aberdeen had been exposed at the back by Craig Bryson's pass into
their half for Sammon to race on to.
The Irishman played a composed square pass to Eremenko, who took the
ball too wide as Langfield confronted him before going down.
Eremenko's fall was undoubtedly exaggerated but Langfield looked,
from a distance, to have made contact and the Israeli pointed to the
spot.
The Aberdeen goalkeeper remonstrated with Eremenko while some of his
team-mates complained to the referee, before Jamie Hamill stepped up to
send Langfield the wrong way.
Sammon and Hamill forced good saves from Langfield following some
more slick moves.
Hamill was booked for bad foul on Aluko as Aberdeen attacked, but the
Dons looked a beaten team after the penalty.
Scott Vernon got several headers on target but Bell was never really
troubled and Sammon almost capitalised again as Langfield initially
mishandled Hamill's drive.
Killie kept the ball from a demoralised Aberdeen for long spells in
the final stages and Langfield producing another save from Eremenko.
50 mins
