Calderwood hailed his side's display in the win over Aberdeen

Kilmarnock manager Jimmy Calderwood praised his side's display in their 2-0 victory against Aberdeen at Rugby Park.

Frazer Wright hobbled off after just two minutes with a hamstring injury, but a David Grassi own goal and an Allan Russell header sealed the win.

"With Frazer getting injured right away I thought it wasn't going to be our day," Calderwood told BBC Scotland.

"But all credit to the boys, they dug in during difficult circumstances and got a victory. I think we deserved it."

Aberdeen's Davide Grassi's turned the ball into his own net after 25 minutes and Allan Russell's header sealed the victory for Kilmarnock.

With the run of results we've been on, the players had to stand up and be counted - and they did that Kilmarnock manager Jimmy Calderwood

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.

"We've had a bad run of results, but I don't think we've been playing all that bad," said Calderwood.

"Even against the Old Firm we created chances, but Aberdeen have so much pace, with Sone Aluko and Michael Paton up front.

"With the run of results we've been on, the players had to stand up and be counted - and they did that.

"The first goal in any game is important, and we got a lift from that."

Calderwood added: "To be fair to Aberdeen they kept pushing forward, but we got a second goal and that probably finished it off.

"That was the big difference - you get confidence from that first goal."

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