YOU’RE A NAUGHTY BOYD
Kris red card was at least a talking point
Kris Boyd went in late on Graeme Shinnie and got red carded – so at least someone got a bit wound up at Pittodrie.
The rest of us were struggling to stay awake.
Both these sides have been hailed as genuine contenders for the title but on this evidence neither Aberdeen nor Kilmarnock look capable of being crowned Premiership champions.
In a dire affair at Pittodrie with very few chances created they cancelled each other out and had to settle for a point apiece.
Boyd was sent off with 12 minutes to go but Steve Clarke’s side defended resolutely to see out the draw.
The Dons had the best chance of the match when Stevie May’s first-half effort looked goalbound, only for keeper Daniel Bachmann to deny him.
Derek McInnes’ side put some pressure on the Ayrshire outfit late on but they never really looked like breaching Killie’s defence.
Aberdeen full-back Shay Logan lamented the quality on show but he’s adamant his side are still in the title race.
He said: “It wasn’t a good game and we didn’t show enough quality to win it. We needed more.
“Kilmarnock set up well and they’re really organised. “Their manager makes sure they stop other teams.
“They didn’t look like scoring but we need to create better chances. There was no lack of effort, just creativity. We just needed a spark.
“We’re always going to be involved in a title race when we’re up there. But we also know there are strong teams around us. Celtic will always be favourites but we’ll keep putting points on the board and see where it takes us.”
This was billed as the game of the day in Scotland.
Whether it was through fear of being mentioned as potential champions, or a lack of quality, it was a turgid 90 minutes.
These two sides have excelled in the campaign so far.
Here, neither of them could strike up any rhythm.
Both were going long wi th few p l ayer s br ave enough to make incisive passes.
Greg Stewart of course was the main sub-plot and the former Killie forward copped pelters from the travelling support.
McInnes started him on the right flank, a position he doesn’t like and one reason why his first spell at Pittodrie wasn’t great.
The difference here was he was given a licence to roam across the Dons frontline as he regularly popped up through the middle off Sam Cosgrove.
His old Rugby Park pals Jordan Jones and Alan Power both gave him a friendly dunt but Stewart was one of the few Aberdeen players who looked capable of making things happen.
The game’s flow wasn’t helped by ref Nick Walsh who seemed determined to blow for nothing.
When he booked Dons skipper Shinnie he should have let play continue with Jones clear on a Killie counter.
The best moment of the half was conjured up by May.
He drove forward and from the edge of the box unleashed a great shot that was clawed away by Bachmann.
That rare moment of quality was the first shot on target.
Soon after the interval Stewart tried to make his mark. One of his trademark lef t- foot shots f rom 20 ya rds had Bachmann worried but curled inches wide.
Aberdeen were certainly the better side in the second half but they never looked like cutting Killie open.
Lewis Ferguson f i red a long-range shot over as they tried to assert pressure.
Aberdeen were dealt a blow late on when Scott McKenna limped off but then Clarke’s side lost a man when sub Boyd was sent packing for his tackle on Shinnie.
The big striker was late and nicked the Dons midfielder on the ankle but it looked a pretty harsh red card.
Despite pinning Killie back Clarke’s men held firm to snatch a point which capped a terrific week for them.