Danny Invincibile celebrates Davide Grassi's own-goal that opened the scoring for Kilmarnock

Davide Grassi's own-goal and a fine Allan Russell header gave Kilmarnock a well-deserved victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League.

Grassi turned the ball into his own net after 25 minutes, when Kilmarnock's Scott Severin fired in from close-range

The win was sealed for Killie when Russell delivered a fine looping header past Jamie Langfield on 73 minutes.

Aberdeen had some notable chances from Sone Aluko and Darren Mackie but struggled to find a way back.

The win pushes Kilmarnock five points clear of the relegation zone, with Aberdeen consigned to the bottom six of the SPL for the first time in six years, having secured just one win from their last 13 matches.

Killie made four changes, with Garry Hay, Danny Invincibile, Mehdi Taouil and Jamie Fowler coming into the starting line-up, while Aberdeen brought in Fraser Fyvie for the suspended Steven MacLean.

Almost immediately, Aberdeen were on the hunt for a goal with Fyvie sending in a searching corner that Grassi nodded wide of the mark.

Kilmarnock's Frazer Wright lasted barely two minutes before being hobbling off with a pulled hamstring, Jamie Hamill replacing him.

Mark Kerr tried to find the net with a cheeky lob from outside the box after Killie keeper Cammy Bell had punched clear, but the ball inched over the bar and the hosts' blushes were spared.

A poorly-timed effort from Killie striker Kevin Kyle whistled out of the park in the 21st minute, then Aluko was denied by a fine save by Bell at the other end.

The stalemate was broken in the 25th minute when Severin blasted in from close range and Grassi deflected the ball into the back of his own net to hand Killie the opener.

Russell could have doubled Killie's lead with a glancing header shortly after hour mark, and the former Airdrie man followed it up two minuets later with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that Jamie Langfield struggled to contain.

Severin had another effort at the Killie goal from just outside the box as the interval approached, but it inched wide of the mark, then Aberdeen's Zander Diamond struck an injury-time effort straight at Bell.

Shortly after the restart, Michael Paton turned on the 18 yard line and struck first time for goal, his curling effort inching past Bell's left-hand post.

The match turned into a more scrappy affair, with both sides niggling at each other the Dons picking up their share of cautions.

Langfield pounced on a Conor Sammon header from six yards out as the hour mark approached, then a Ricky Foster run fizzled out when Fowler blocked the final ball.

Mackie could have levelled for Aberdeen in the 66th minute, despite appearing to be in an offside position, but his feeble header was easily collected by Bell.

A neatly-worked combination between Kyle and Taouil almost paid dividends when the big striker broke free and out-jumped the Aberdeen defence, but his header lacked power.

Russell all but sealed the win for the hosts with 16 minutes remaining after he latched on to a searching Fowler ball and delivered a superb looping header back across the face of the Aberdeen goal.

Moments later, Tim Clancy denied Mackie from close range at the other end.

A late header from Kyle was cleared off the Aberdeen line and Bell was at full-stretch to tip over a Mackie effort as the match headed towards the final whistle - and three well-earned points for Kilmarnock.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version