Derek Young opened the scoring for Aberdeen shortly after the interval

By Martin Conaghan

Jimmy Calderwood's search for points as Kilmarnock manager continues, following a narrow defeat to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League.

Darren Mackie had a shot cleared off the line in the first-half.

Derek Young fired the Dons into the lead with a superb volleyed shot from eight yards four minutes into the second-half.

Kilmarnock had few chances, a late Mark Burchill volley the only noteworthy effort in an otherwise dull match.

Gary McDonald returned to face former club Kilmarnock at Pittodrie, with Peter Pawlett dropping to the bench and Dons defender Zander Diamond also returned to the bench after missing the start of the season with an ankle injury and a broken nose.

Kilmarnock manager Jimmy Calderwood made four changes, with Danny Invincibile, Mehdi Taouil, Gavin Skelton and David Fernandez all handed starts, while top scorer Kevin Kyle started on the bench.

Following an untidy start, it was a full 20 minutes before the match sparked to life, with Aberdeen's first attempt on goal coming from the boot of Young, the former Partick Thistle man sending his low drive just wide of Cammy Bell's left-hand post.

Moments later, a fantastic save by Bell kept out a powerful Fraser Fyvie shot, then a Mackie thunderbolt was headed off the line as the Dons pressed for an opener.

Kilmarnock's Garry Hay blasted in an effort that the other end, but Davide Grassi managed to get a block in to deny.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Richard Foster crossed in for Gary McDonald to head for goal from deep inside the Kilmarnock penalty area, but the ball spun wide.

Mackie tried to latch on to a Richard Foster cross inside the Killie six-yard box, but his awkward positioning caused him to balloon the ball over the bar.

As half-time approached, Mackie broke free again down the left-hand side and sped into the Killie penalty area, but fired his final ball across the face of goal and failed to trouble Bell.

Four minutes after the restart, Young fired Aberdeen into the lead with a superb shot from eight yards out on the volley after Killie's Simon Ford inadvertently helped the ball along, leaving Bell standing.

Kilmarnock's River City star Allan Russell tried to reply with a half-hearted attempt on goal from distance as the visitors struggle to gain a foothold on the match.

With 20 minutes left to play, Grassi sent in an effort on goal as Aberdeen tried to extend their slim advantage, but Bell made the save.

Sensing some urgency as full-time approached, Killie pressed for an equaliser and substitute Burchill came close with a volleyed effort from the edge of the Aberdeen penalty area, but Jamie Langfield deflected well.

McDonald had a shot cleared off the Kilmarnock line in the dying minutes, which proved to be the most energetic period in the match for both sides.

In added time, Garry Hay sent a long ball forward into the Aberdeen penalty area and sub Kevin Kyle pounced for a potential equaliser, but stabbed the ball straight at Langfield and the chance to level the scores was gone.

With the last kick of the match, Bell prevented Young from doubling his tally, keeping out a long-range effort with a fine reflex save.

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee:
"We set out to try and pass the ball and get in-between them and mix it up.

"To a large extent, it worked for us, we had a lot of possession and eventually we got a goal.

"Derek stayed in the team because he's worked ever so hard to come back in to the reckoning, and he thoroughly deserved to be in the team and got his reward for the effort in getting the winning goal.

"It takes a lot of energy to play the way we tried to play today, in the midfield particularly, but we still felt comfortable."

Kilmarnock manager Jimmy Calderwood:
"Our final ball let us down, but we were quite comfortable.

"We started the second-half sloppy, and I'm chuffed for wee Derek that he got it, but the difference between the two teams was Darren Mackie, his hold-up play was fantastic.

"I think we dominated at the end, and it was one-way traffic, but the damage was done early in the second-half."

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