Scott McKenna On Target As Dons Move Up To Third

Back to league matters for the Dons and it was a glorious afternoon in Ayrshire thanks to a burst of Easter sunshine for us to earn our third consecutive league win on the trot.

It was a depleted Aberdeen team that faced our fellow Euro challengers, Kilmarnock.

Derek McInnes made three changes to the the Scottish Cup Semi-Final side.

Lewis Ferguson was ruled out through suspension following his straight red at Hampden.

Dean Campbell was dropped to the bench and Greg Stewart didn’t feature at all due to a niggling  sciatica problem.

Graeme Shinnie returned from suspension, Stephen Gleeson and Mikey Devlin also made the starting line-up.

And it looked as if the Dons were going to pick up where they left off from the Cup Semi-Final,. with Mikey Devlin earning a yellow for tripping Eamonn Brophy just inside the Dons half.

And just moments later, Scott McKenna came close when he connected with a Stevie May free-kick deep towards the back post.

Not long after, Graeme Shinnie’s shot from the edge of the box but a deflection took the sting out of chance and Dan Bachmann gathered it easily.

Sam Cosgrove added to the yellows, after fouling Gary Dicker in the 33rd minute, indeed the Dons striker needed to be careful not to be sent off for a few reckless challenges, shortly after he fouled Stuart Findlay and was lucky not to get a second booking.

Clearly Findlay was rattled, and pushed Cosgrove in the box, which he was booked for.

And just moments later, the first of three red cards was issued to Kirk Broadfoot after he went in with his stud into a challenge with Joe Lewis.

A fiery end to the first half, and to prevent him getting sent off, Sam Cosgrove was replaced at half-time with James Wilson coming on.

Aberdeen went ahead in the 67th minute, when Scott McKenna managed to get onto Graeme Shinnie’s scorner, and headed home from the six yard line.

Seven minutes later, O’Donnell had his chance, but Ethan Ross made a brilliant back track to deflect his shot wide for a corner.

The second red card was issued to Stuart Findlay after a challenge on Graeme Shinnie and not long after Kilmarnock were reduced to eight men in injury time, when Rory McKenzie lashed out at Dominic Ball.

An important three points for the Dons who move up to third in the Scottish Premiership.