Kilmarnock looked to have frustrated the home side but the Dons prevailed in the end, recounts Andrew Watson.
Though relatively mild for the time of year, conditions at Pittodrie were only a degree or two off of biting cold.
Initially, the Rugby Park men unsettled the home side but Aberdeen soon settled into the run of play. However, the final product proved elusive for both teams for much of the duration.
The closest any side got in the first half was David Goodwillie chasing the ball down toward the Merkland end and, at a tight angle, hammering the ball off the crossbar.
Undoubtedly, a player of his calibre would usually find the back of the net despite the odds stacked against them, but it wasn’t to be.
The incident that daresay changed the tide of things was Killie’s Darryl Westlake being stretchered off not long before half time.
After the break winger Jonny Hayes came more into his own, and was beating players for fun just about any time he was on the ball.
Eventually his efforts were rewarded when a shot of his deflected fortuitously to the feet of Peter Pawlett, who finished what Hayes had started.
1-0 Aberdeen, finally, after 69 minutes!
Jeffrey Monakana came on the pitch four minutes later, replacing Goodwillie. Like his previous outing at Pittodrie, against Hamilton, he impressed with his vision and touch.
Kilmarnock fought to the very end but Aberdeen squeaked yet another victory, and yet another clean sheet.
Final score: 1-0.
