Kilmarnock 0-4 Aberdeen: Derek McInnes cools Dons title talk

Niall McGinn (right) and Adam Rooney both scored in the first half for Aberdeen

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes will not get carried away with talk of a title race, despite moving to within a point of Celtic.

Aberdeen looked back to their best with a thumping 4-0 victory away to Kilmarnock.

McInnes was thrilled with the performance from his side, in what was his 57th top-flight win from 100 league matches in charge of Aberdeen.

"The lads were absolutely terrific from start to finish," he told BBC Scotland.

"We had a good approach to the game, we imposed ourselves on the game, which was important. We know Kilmarnock are on a difficult run, it's important we didn't give them any encouragement.

"The quality of the goals today was really pleasing. Every goal was better than the last one."

Despite leaders Celtic losing to Motherwell, McInnes was coy about the notion of a Premiership title race.

He said: "There are still loads of points to play for. We said at the start of the season, we want to improve on our points tally from last season and that has not changed - wherever that takes us.

"We are seriously just looking at the next one, we've got a home game next against Inverness.

"Traditionally, we have always come through November and December quite strong and that's been the case the last few weeks and hopefully we can continue that."

Aberdeen defender Shay Logan completed the rout with the fourth goal

The Kilmarnock fans voiced their displeasure at the final whistle, and manager Gary Locke said he was as angry as they were with the lacklustre performance from his side.

"They are right to be angry, I'm angry myself," said Locke. "I've stuck up for the players after a couple of bad results here but I said to them in [the dressing room] I can't stick up for them after that.

"The position we are in you've got to compete and stop crosses coming in and we never did that."

Locke says he expects to wield the axe on his squad come the January transfer window.

"I think it's blatantly evident that we need to make changes," he explained. "I can't keep on going here shipping the goals that we lose."

Kilmarnock look destined for a grim fight against relegation but Locke remains adamant he is the man to guide the club out of trouble.

"I'm confident in my ability," he added. "The players have got to take a bit of responsibility themselves. I'll take responsibility, deservedly taking a bit of stick at the moment and you have to take that on the chin as a manager.

"But I know the players are better than what they have shown today. There is a lack of confidence. We just have to keep working hard on the training ground and keep believing in what we are doing. The players and myself have got to turn it around."