HOME IS WHERE THE HURT IS
Killie woes continue as Dons make it 18 matches unbeaten at Rugby Park
THERE is still nothing surer in life than death, taxes... and Kilmarnock not winning against Aberdeen on home soil. A deflected strike by Ryan Hedges and a late Sam Cosgrove free-kick left the Ayrshire side without a victory on their own patch against the Dons in 18 attempts stretching back to December 2011.
For Derek McInnes, it was a refreshingly familiar experience that saw his team draw level with Celtic in the table, albeit having played two games more.
But the Aberdeen boss said yesterday’s win was more down to his team’s hard work than any kind of curse for Killie.
‘We have such a strong record here at Rugby Park — but that guarantees you nothing,’ he said. ‘Every game we have won here, we’ve had to get our hands dirty, do the work, cover the yards and compete — and we did that again today.
‘We also showed the players some goals that Killie have lost and how they defend deep.
‘When you have a shot from the edge of the box, you can get a deflection and that’s what happened with the first goal from Hedges. It wasn’t the cleanest strike but we got our reward.
‘It’s pleasing to be up there (with Celtic). But you never get too obsessed with the league table in mid-December.
‘We have four games between now and January 2 and if we can maintain the numbers we are getting, we’re on course to have a good season.’
Killie suffered a blow when Aaron McGowan limped off midway through the first half. He was replaced by Greg Kiltie, with Rory McKenzie dropping back from midfield into right-back.
The hosts had a penalty claim waved away by referee David Munro after Aaron Tshibola went down in the box under a challenge from Lewis Ferguson.
Aberdeen’s Tommie Hoban then headed over from a cross from Jonny Hayes.
Curtis Main got in behind Killie’s Calum Waters but made a mess of squaring to Hedges, allowing Stuart Find lay to intercept. McInnes roared his fury at the striker for electing to pass rather than shoot.
Aberdeen took the lead seven minutes into the second half when Hedges picked the ball up and drove at the Killie back line.
He cut inside Waters before unleashing a shot that struck Findlay and looped up over Danny Rogers in the Kilmarnock goal.
As Killie pushed for an equaliser, it took an important header from Main to clear Eamonn Brophy’s cross from the danger zone.
Aberdeen should have made it 2-0 but substitute Cosgrove saw his shot saved by Rodgers.
Yet Cosgrove did have the final say after being hauled down by Brandon Haunstrup at the edge of the box as he ran through again.
The Killie sub, who had been on the park barely seven minutes, was shown a red card.
Worse was to follow for the hosts when Cosgrove thumped the ball low through a poorly organised wall with the last kick of the game.
There was frustration amid the elation for McInnes afterwards, with Hoban picking up a first-half hamstring injury. The Dons boss is now short of defensive options.
‘We sold Scott McKenna before the summer transfer window closed, then we brought in Greg Leigh who is out and Mikey Devlin has just had an operation,’ said McInnes. ‘So losing Hoban is the last thing we need. Maybe I’ll get a centre-half for my Christmas.
‘But four goals and two clean sheets in our last two games is pleasing and we go into the Motherwell game at Fir Park on Wednesday with confidence.’
These are troubled times for Killie. This was their sixth loss in their last seven Premiership games. In all six defeats, they have failed to score. Boss Alex Dyer also f aces defensive concerns with McGowan and Findlay injured yesterday and Haunstrup suspended for the trip to Tannadice on Wednesday.
‘It is always a concern when you are not scoring goals,’ said Dyer. ‘And we are not creating chances, so that is also a worry.
‘But we have to dig in, and it is up to me to get them going again.
‘Stuart Findlay has injured his shoulder and Aaron looks like he’s injured a hamstring. Hopefully they will not be out long.
‘Brandon is suspended as well. He has to use his head in that situation.
‘But, in the heat of the moment, you do certain things. That is life.’
KILMARNOCK (4-4-2): Rogers 6; McGowan 3 (Kiltie 29), Broadfoot 6, Findlay 6 (Haunstrup 87), Waters 6; Burke 6, Power 6, Tshibola 6, McKenzie 6; Brophy 6, Kabamba 5 (Whitehall 72). Subs not used: Doyle, Taylor, Mulumbu, Pinnock. Booked: Tshibola. Sent off: Haunstrup.
ABERDEEN (3-4-2-1): Lewis 6; Hoban 5 (Campbell 46), Taylor 6, Considine 6; McLennan 6 (Logan 80), Ferguson 6, McCrorie 6, Hayes 6; Hedges 7, Kennedy 6; Main 6 (Cosgrove 80). Subs not used: Woods, Ojo, McGinn, Hernandez, Edmondson, Ngwenya. Booked: None.
Man of the match: Ryan Hedges. Referee: David Munro.