Aberdeen put their league woes behind them and delivered the best performance of Neil Warnock’s tenure by dispatching Kilmarnock to claim the first spot in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Just over three years since his Pittodrie departure, Derek McInnes led his team north having won all three Premiership games against his former club this season.
But Warnock’s much-improved side – 14 points worse off than Kilmarnock – came out swinging and caught the Ayrshire visitors cold when Jamie McGrath bundled in a rebound after the lively Junior Hoilett had a shot saved.
That goal was a wake-up call for the away side, who responded well but were soon picking the ball out their net again when Graeme Shinnie rifled into the top-left corner via a slight deflection.
Kilmarnock, without a Scottish Cup semi-final appearance since 1997, gave their large away following hope at the end of a gripping first half after Kyle Vassell watched Danny Armstrong smash in his dinked cross.
But the revived hosts capped off an encouraging display and sealed a deserved win when McGrath’s effort was diverted in by the head of opposing defender Stuart Findlay.
Aberdeen, who lost this season’s League Cup final to Rangers under Barry Robson, will find out their last-four opponent on Monday following Hearts’ trip to Greenock Morton – live on BBC Scotland.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Aberdeen
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Roos
- 2DevlinSubstituted forMilneat 88′minutes
- 6Gartenmann
- 27MacDonald
- 3MacKenzieBooked at 46mins
- 8BarronSubstituted forClarksonat 90+1′minutes
- 4ShinnieBooked at 90mins
- 18Phillips
- 7McGrathBooked at 70mins
- 30HoilettSubstituted forHenriques de Barros Lopesat 82′minutes
- 9MiovskiSubstituted forSoklerat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Jensen
- 10Clarkson
- 11Henriques de Barros Lopes
- 17Hayes
- 19Sokler
- 20Morris
- 21Polvara
- 28Milne
- 31Doohan
Kilmarnock
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Dennis
- 4WrightBooked at 62mins
- 5Mayo
- 17Findlay
- 3Ndaba
- 11ArmstrongBooked at 62minsSubstituted forMackay-Stevenat 75′minutes
- 31PolworthSubstituted forBalagiziat 75′minutes
- 22Donnelly
- 12WatsonSubstituted forMurrayat 45′minutes
- 23WatkinsSubstituted forCameronat 84′minutes
- 9VassellSubstituted forStewartat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Deas
- 7McKenzie
- 14Balagizi
- 15Murray
- 18Cameron
- 20O’Hara
- 21Stewart
- 39Mackay-Steven
- 99van Veen
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 10,879
Live Text
-
Match ends, Aberdeen 3, Kilmarnock 1.
-
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 3, Kilmarnock 1.
-
Attempt saved. Killian Phillips (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
-
Substitution, Aberdeen. Leighton Clarkson replaces Connor Barron.
-
Attempt missed. Innes Cameron (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
-
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card.
-
Substitution, Aberdeen. Jack Milne replaces Nicky Devlin.
-
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Corrie Ndaba.
-
Foul by Innes Cameron (Kilmarnock).
-
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Innes Cameron replaces Marley Watkins.
-
Attempt missed. Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
-
Substitution, Aberdeen. Duk replaces Junior Hoilett.
-
Substitution, Aberdeen. Ester Sokler replaces Bojan Miovski.
-
Foul by Liam Donnelly (Kilmarnock).
-
Killian Phillips (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the left wing.
-
Attempt saved. Bojan Miovski (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
-
Attempt saved. Bojan Miovski (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.
-
Liam Donnelly (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen).
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Aberdeen
-
Squad number24Player nameRoos
-
Squad number2Player nameDevlin
-
Squad number6Player nameGartenmann
-
Squad number27Player nameMacDonald
-
Squad number3Player nameMacKenzie
-
Squad number8Player nameBarron
-
Squad number4Player nameShinnie
-
Squad number18Player namePhillips
-
Squad number7Player nameMcGrath
-
Squad number30Player nameHoilett
-
Squad number9Player nameMiovski
-
Squad number10Player nameClarkson
-
Squad number11Player nameDuk
-
Squad number19Player nameSokler
-
Squad number28Player nameMilne
Kilmarnock
-
Squad number1Player nameDennis
-
Squad number4Player nameWright
-
Squad number5Player nameMayo
-
Squad number17Player nameFindlay
-
Squad number3Player nameNdaba
-
Squad number11Player nameArmstrong
-
Squad number31Player namePolworth
-
Squad number22Player nameDonnelly
-
Squad number12Player nameWatson
-
Squad number23Player nameWatkins
-
Squad number9Player nameVassell
-
Squad number14Player nameBalagizi
-
Squad number15Player nameMurray
-
Squad number18Player nameCameron
-
Squad number21Player nameStewart
-
Squad number39Player nameMackay-Steven
Source Agencies
