Aberdeen maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a deserved 2-0 win over 10-man Kilmarnock at Pittodrie.
Pape Habib Gueye headed home both goals, either side of Killie captain Brad Lyons seeing red – after a VAR review – for a challenge on Ester Sokler early in the second half.
Killie boss Derek McInnes, himself a former Aberdeen manager, had stoked tensions before the match, suggesting his side should not face such a lengthy trip after Thursday’s Europa Conference League qualifying defeat to FC Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, the Dons were bolstered by the loan arrival of Scotland striker Kevin Nisbet from Millwall, though he started on the bench.
There was a first Dons start for winger Topi Keskinen, who scored after coming off the bench in the League Cup win over Queen’s Park last Saturday, while McInnes made two changes from the side that had lined up in Denmark.
Aberdeen were immediately on the front foot and could have been in front after 11 minutes when Sokler and Gueye were unable to take advantage of quickfire crosses from Jack MacKenzie and Jamie McGrath.
McGrath was involved again in creating an opportunity for Keskinen, with the winger dragging his effort wide of the post.
Killie’s first real chance came in the 22nd minute as Liam Donnelly slipped in David Watson, despite the challenge of Graeme Shinnie, but goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov was equal to the effort.
A minute later, Aberdeen were ahead. They moved up the field patiently, working the ball to the left where Shinnie delivered a cross for Gueye to peel off his man and head home at the back post.
Kilmarnock had a penalty claim shortly afterwards when Marley Watkins collided with home defender Gavin Molloy, but the claim was waved away.
The visitors were coming back into the game following the introduction of Bruce Anderson for Watson, but Lyons’ straight-leg challenge on Sokler after 53 minutes saw him sent off and the Dons regain control.
Sokler should have scored from close range before the hour, MacKenzie again providing the left-wing cross which the striker somehow turned over the crossbar from eight yards.
When the second goal arrived, it was almost a carbon copy of the first.
This time it was a McGrath corner from the left that saw Gueye find space and again he directed a header in at the far post.
With the points in the bag, Aberdeen made a slew of changes, including handing debuts to Nisbet and midfielder Ante Palaversa, with a couple of half-chances falling to MacKenzie and McGrath.
And a costly day for Killie was compounded as the game entered stoppage time, with Stuart Findlay withdrawn as a concussion substitution following a clash of heads with Peter Ambrose.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
