Dons v Killie
Winning is becoming a habit for McInnes
Derek McInnes was delighted the Dons welcomed fans back to Pittodrie with a win but promised those in the stadium and at home that better days lie ahead.
Ross McCrorie’s first goal for Aberdeen was enough to make it five wins in a row for McInnes’s side for the first time in three years. That provided the perfect boost for Thursday night’s Europa League qualifier away to Viking Stavanger.
It also kept Aberdeen four points clear in fourth place, with at least a game in hand over all the teams below them in the Premiership.
But it was the return of supporters to the stadium that the manager was most pleased with as a first small step towards normality.
Covid-19 restrictions meant just 300 lucky winners of the ballot of Dons season ticket holders were able to safely watch on from the South Stand.
McInnes appreciated the backing received yesterday and
vowed there would be even more to get excited about in the future.
He said: “We were aware the fans were there right from the warm-up and it was important to give them the win after not seeing the team in the flesh for so long.
“They really applauded the team’s every effort, whether going forward or when we had to defend, and that 300 can come every week if that’s the backing we are going to get.
“It’s great they could go away happy with the three points and I can promise them that there’s more to come from us.”
There was certainly a lot for the home support to admire about the pace and precision of Aberdeen’s play early on.
On-loan Bristol City striker Marley Watkins was at the apex of an attack boasting the speed and movement of Matty Kennedy, Ryan Hedges, Jonny Hayes and Scott Wright.
They pulled the visitors all over the place at times and never more so than with the only goal. Watkins delightfully cushioned a pass into Wright’s stride and he sped clear down the left before delivering an inviting ball into the middle.
McCrorie showed why McInnes was delighted to pinch him from under the noses of Hibs by accepting the opportunity to guide the ball into the corner of the net.
It was the on-loan Rangers
player’s first goal since claiming a point saver for the Ibrox club at Pittodrie two years ago.
Kilmarnock finally started to threaten towards the break.
The problem for visiting boss Alex Dyer was that his side failed to convert an impressive 10 minutes of pressure into an equaliser.
Greg Kiltie forced Joe Lewis into a sharp save before being beaten to Ross Millen’s cross as Wright cleared from under his own crossbar.
Then Scott McKenna was forced into an equally important intervention to deal with Eamonn Brophy’s diving header from a corner.
Stuart Findlay missed the recent Scotland matches through injury and missed a great chance to return a hero with a miscued header.
His defensive partner Kirk Broadfoot didn’t reappear after the break as a result of a thumping accidental collision with McCrorie in the first half.
Not that it mattered much, as Aberdeen only threatened occasionally on the break in the second period.
Wright should have finished the contest 19 minutes from the end after being sent clear by Watkins but shot wide.
Killie boss Alex Dyer said: ”We just weren’t clinical enough to take something from the game but we need to dust ourselves down and go again against Hamilton.”