Aberdeen vs Kilmarnock; Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen vs Kilmarnock. Scottish Premiership.
Pittodrie.
Aberdeen 1-0 Kilmarnock: Dons hold on to first-minute lead to beat Scottish Premiership relegation rivals Killie
Match report as Aberdeen beat Kilmarnock 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership; Afeez Aremu netted the early opener at Pittodrie, with the Dons' crossbar struck three times
Saturday 25 April 2026 19:23, UK
Aberdeen led from the first minute in their vital Scottish Premiership match against relegation rivals Kilmarnock but had to hold on for a 1-0 win in a game that saw the home side's crossbar struck three times.
Afeez Aremu netted the early opener, and while Aberdeen rarely looked like adding a second, Killie's Aaron Tshibola headed off the bar twice, and Jack Milne came close to netting an own goal as he headed off his own woodwork.
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The Dons had won their final game before the split against Hibs to open up a five-point gap on Kilmarnock who currently fill the play-off spot, and that went some way to easing the tension around the Granite City.
Neil McCann's men were understandably keen to gain ground on the sides ahead of them, with St Mirren and Dundee, as well as the hosts, still within reach.
The visitors made one change from the side that had drawn with Hibs last time out, Max Stryjek returning in goal in place of former Aberdeen man Kelle Roos after a six-month spell out, having undergone heart surgery.
It would not be a happy return for Stryjek though, as the keeper was picking the ball out of the net in the opening minute.
Mitchel Frame's throw-in was worked back to Stuart Armstrong who squared nicely for Aremu to calmly slot into the bottom-right corner from 15 yards, a slight deflection taking the ball into the corner.
It was a fast start for the home side, and they worked a number of openings, utilising the pace of Toyosi Olusanya, but without really threatening Stryjek's goal.
There was a penalty claim as the ball seemed to strike the arm of Robbie Deas, but referee Nick Walsh was unmoved.
Kilmarnock swiftly broke and at the other end won a free-kick from which substitute Dominic Thompson, on for the injured Jamie Brandon, whipped in a delivery for Tshibola to head off the crossbar. Dimitar Mitov might have had the faintest of touches on the effort.
The away side had settled into the game now, with winger Nicky Clescenco asking questions of Aberdeen right-back Alexander Jensen, and it was he who drew the first save of the second half, an easy hold for Mitov.
Aberdeen's Milne had headed wide when free at the back post before that, and Olusanya hit over soon after in a bright opening to the second period.
Stryjek was called into action soon after, another Frame delivery coming off two Killie bodies before being gratefully claimed by the Polish stopper.
But Aberdeen were left counting their blessings on the hour as Clescenco again got away down the left, clipping in for the late-arriving Tshibola who saw his header again clip the crossbar.
And the Dons goal was leading a charmed life, as the crossbar was struck for a third time, Milne turning Greg Kiltie's teasing cross off his own bar.
Milne popped up at the other end shortly after, his looping header from Ante Palaversa's free-kick forcing a superb flaying save from Stryjek, and that would prove his final act, forced off with a head injury a few moments later.
What the managers said...
Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson:
"It's a huge three points. We started the game really well and I think for 15-20 minutes we were excellent, and then nerves set in. We started doing things that were very positive - playing forward, playing down the sides, and then we stopped doing that.
"What's not been said about this Aberdeen side for a long time is that they showed great character, they defended their box when they needed to, they didn't concede from set plays, and it's another clean sheet.
"We're doing the basics right. Hard to beat, hard to break down, everybody knows what they're doing. Can we be better? Of course we can. We can be better on the ball, we can be more creative and play positive football more.
"It was a superb touch from Stuart [Armstrong] to set up the goal, and it was a really composed finish."
Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann:
I'm very proud of how we played the game considering an early setback which continually plagues us.
"We spoke about having a smart start and don't give Aberdeen a lift, which is exactly what we did, and to rub salt in the wounds we lose Jamie [Brandon] to injury as well.
"I felt we grew into the game. We adjusted to the pressure, we continued to play, created lots of chances and we hit the woodwork a good three or four times.
"We changed our shape today, and as a team we never looked as if we felt sorry for ourselves. It's pleasing that we continued to push, but unfortunately we were unable to get the goal we deserved.
"We've a way we want to play, and I've no complaints about how the boys applied themselves."
