On his first appearance since January, Scott Robinson scored to lead Kilmarnock to a deserving 2-1 victory over Aberdeen at Rugby Park. Robinson scored a coolly taken goal to celebrate his return from a long-term foot ailment, and Joe Wright's excellent header put the hosts ahead at the break.
Aberdeen scored a late consolation goal from a fantastic free kick from Matty Kennedy, but the visitors were unable to mount a comeback, and they suffered their first top-flight loss at Rugby Park since 2011.
As a result, Jim Goodwin's team has now dropped four straight games since the Premiership season resumed following the World Cup, while Kilmarnock's triumph moves them up to ninth place in the standings.
Derek McInnes, the manager of Kilmarnock, made three substitutions from his team's comeback draw against Motherwell: McKenzie and Robinson replaced Jordan Jones and Bobby Wales, and Liam Polworth took the place of the suspended Alan Power.
Leighton Clarkson was replaced by Ryan Duncan in the Dons' only other change, and Jack McKenzie started in place of Anthony Stewart, who was suspended after receiving a red card the previous time out against St. Mirren.
The home team had a better start to the game and had the game's opening opportunity in the eighth minute when Robinson missed wide from eight yards out following a nice passing move down the right side.
Five minutes later, Kilmarnock had a better chance when Ash Taylor was presented with an inch-perfect inswinging cross by Dan Armstong, but he could only flick a header wide from a very little distance.
The first shot on goal for the opposition came from Duncan in the 23rd minute, but Sam Walker of Kilmarnock comfortably parried the youngster's left-footed attempt.
However, the home team was clearly in the lead, as Christian Doidge twice came close to scoring before Dons goalkeeper Kelle Roos made a huge save to deny McKenzie as he went through one-on-one.
Just after the half-hour mark, Kilmarnock's dominance began to pay off, and it was the returning Robinson who gave the game its first goal. Robinson punished a sluggish Aberdeen defense by latching onto McKenzie's cross and firing the ball into the far corner from six yards out.
The hosts had earned it, and things would quickly get better for them when they increased their lead in the 42nd minute. The unlikely hero was the defender Taylor, who found himself in a favorable position on the left wing and sent in a precise cross that his center-back partner Wright headed in to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
After the enjoyable first half, the second half was much more tense, with Kilmarnock content to play it safe and hold onto their lead. It took the visitors until the 77th minute to generate another chance, as substitute Christian Ramirez fired barely wide from the edge of the box, despite having the majority of the ball.
Kennedy's perfect free-kick from 25 yards over the goal wall and into the net in the last seconds of the game did allow Aberdeen to score, but it was too little, too late as Kilmarnock hung on to win a priceless match.
blogpay
