Aberdeen moved up to third place in the Scottish Premiership following a commanding 5-1 win against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie.
Goals from Peter Pawlett, Anthony O’Connor, Niall McGinn and a Jonny Hayes double made for a comfortable night’s work for the Dons as they recorded their 12th straight win against the Ayrshire club.
Dons manager Derek McInnes made four changes from the side which lost 2-1 at Ibrox on Saturday.
Adam Rooney, Niall McGinn, Anthony O’Connor and Peter Pawlett replaced the suspended Ryan Jack while Ash Taylor, Mark Reynolds and Jayden Stockley dropped to the bench.
The Dons, playing in front of a home support for the first time since October, faced a Killie side with one change from their win against Dundee on Saturday with Nathan Tyson dropping to the bench. Adam Frizzell took his place in the starting line-up.
Frizzell was involved in much of Killie’s positive play in a strong start from the visitors but it was the Dons who opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Pawlett who got a touch on a Graeme Shinnie drive to divert it past Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.
The Dons took control following their opener and they duly doubled their lead on the half hour mark when James Maddison’s cross found Pawlett in the box. The midfielder saw his effort saved by MacDonald but O’Connor was on hand to put the ball into the empty net.
It was one-way traffic following the second and the Dons wasted little time in adding a third with Jonny Hayes running on to a Rooney pass to fire the ball past the Kilmarnock goalkeeper.
McGinn made it 4-0 in the second half, firing past MacDonald after Rooney’s blocked shot landedwas blocked before Killie pulled a goal back through Rory McKenzie.
Aberdeen had the final say, however, with Hayes rounding MacDonald to net his second of the game five minutes from time.
