Aberdeen 3-1 Kilmarnock

A fine second-half performance from Aberdeen saw them return to winning ways against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie.

Kris Boyd scored on his 300th Kilmarnock appearance when Greg Taylor's shot deflected off him and in.

However, Aberdeen turned it around after half-time; Adam Rooney knocking in from close range before Scott McKenna's thumping shot from distance.

Niall McGinn added a sublime third - his first since returning to the Dons - after winning the ball in his own half.

For Kilmarnock this was their first defeat on the road since Steve Clarke took the helm.

Aberdeen were looking for a reaction after their 2-0 midweek defeat at Rangers, and they dominated early proceedings.

Shay Logan hooked a shot on target, which Killie goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald did well to claw round the post.

But Logan then almost put the ball into his own net. Jordan Jones drove in a low cross which Logan - under pressure - bundled towards goal, and Danny Rogers made the save. Kilmarnock claims for a handball from Logan were waved away by referee Craig Thomson.

Kris Boyd (left) gave Kilmarnock a first-half lead

MacDonald did well to tip another McGinn effort over, but Kilmarnock were beginning to grow into the game. Boyd nodded a header over the bar, before almost inevitably making the breakthrough.

The initial shot came from left-back Greg Taylor, but on the way towards goal the ball took a deflection off Boyd's back side; the touch just enough to deceive Rogers.

Jones forced Rogers into a save as the away side looked to increase their lead. At the other end McGinn volleyed a shot on target but MacDonald saved again.

In the second half Aberdeen defender McKenna would turn this match around, in spectacular fashion.

The equaliser was fairly orthodox. From a corner McKenna rose powerfully to drive home a header. MacDonald got a hand to it and Rooney bundled it home just to be on the safe side, with Aberdeen confirming later that the referee had awarded the Irishman the goal.

But the best was yet to come. There appeared to be little in the way of threat as McKenna strode forward, 40 yards from goal. But a second later the Pittodrie faithful were on their feet as the centre-back unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot which flew past MacDonald, high into the net.

It was as sublime as it was unexpected and suddenly Aberdeen were in the lead with a contender for goal of the season.

Niall McGinn (right) watches as his strike hits the net to make it 3-1 to Aberdeen

Boyd powered in a free-kick which Rogers spilled, but the 'keeper responded well and denied Youssouf Mulumbu from close range.

Aberdeen would make the game safe with another goal of real quality. The Dons broke out of defence with McGinn taking the ball from deep inside his own half to the edge of the Kilmarnock box before unleashing an unstoppable shot past MacDonald. It was a fantastic strike.

Kilmarnock almost got a goal back, but Rogers saved well from Stephen O'Donnell, tipping over from inside the box.

McGinn would go close again with a shot tipped wide of the post. Kenny McLean would also force MacDonald into another save, but by now Aberdeen were in total control.

Post-match reaction

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "I've worked with these players for a long time so I know how disappointed we are when we lose. We don't lose too many but the motivation to get back to winning ways quickly is always there and I think that was evident today.

"There might have been a few people looking at that result at half-time and doubting us - I never doubted the players for a minute. I thought they were magnificent for the majority of the game but especially the second half.

"You need moments of quality and Niall McGinn lit the game up for the whole of the second half and I thought Scott McKenna's second was absolutely top drawer. It's all of 40 yards and it's still gathering speed as it hits the back of the net.

"We spoke to Hull again yesterday and reinforced the message that he (McKenna) won't be sold, certainly not in this window. The phone is off the hook regarding him for the next few days. But he's doing himself no harm, he's in a good place, his overall game is magnificent."

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: "We started a little bit slowly. Aberdeen had a little bit of pressure on us early on, but then we got into the game and got ourselves probably a fortunate goal. But we got ourselves in front, and I thought we were quite comfortable after that.

"And then we had a crazy little spell in the second half. A little bit unfortunate, we lost a goal off a deflection off a header from a corner. We were disappointed to lose that and then it was compounded very quickly by a wonder strike from the lad McKenna, top corner."

"After that I thought we reacted quite well. We tried to play good football. We had them under a little bit of pressure and we were starting to look as if we could be a little bit of a threat to them. Unfortunately Gary Dicker made a mistake in the middle of the park and on the counter attack they got the third goal which made it a long way back."