PRE-MATCH RIVALRY

Aberdeen expertly illustrated why actions speak louder than words as they closed the gap on Celtic to three points with a dominant display at Rugby Park.

Derek Mcinnes insisted he was unaware if Kris Boyd’s reiterated verbal attack on Graeme Shinnie and Kenny Mclean gave his side extra motivation.

But it was surely no coincidence that they were the best two players on the field and fatefully combined for the first goal after barely a minute.

Stevie May ended his goal drought with a deflected second goal and a brilliant third after Jordan Jones, who was sent off in the final minute, was allowed to score from Joe Lewis’s mistake.

And it sets up the Dons perfectly for a double header with rudderless Rangers.

Mcinnes said: “Kris walked past our dressing room at the start of the game and I tried to drag him in but he said ‘I’m not going in there’.

“I’ve no problem with what he said even if I don’t agree with it but there wasn’t any extra added motivation to do well because of that.

“Whether the players spoke about it I don’t know but my motivation was to bounce back from last week’s defeat and take the three points.

“Scoring two early goals put the pressure on Kilmarnock.

“It was a poor decision to have a goal disallowed just

0 After twisting away from Kirk Broadfoot and Gordon Greer, Stevie May drives home the Dons’ third goal.

“I tried to drag Kris into our dressing room at the start but he said ‘I’m not going in there’”

DEREK MCINNES after half-time and had we gone 3-0 up at that stage it would have been more comfortable.

“By and large I’m pleased with the players as we were all hurting after last week’s performance.

“That’s ten wins and two draws in our last 12 away games which shows a good focus and a good level of performance