An important and merited win for the Dons, paid for on plastic, but a season which had got off to a stuttering start is now in credit.
Hard work for the Dons, but their resilience and eventual quality shone through to demonstrate Sunday’s opening-day defeat was but a blip.
Peter Pawlett and Ryan Jack scored goals of superb quality but also simplicity and although this weekend is a blank after the Europa League excursions the break has been fully deserved.
Changes again for Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes, with David Goodwillie left out and Adam Rooney back as the leader of the attack, while Jonny Hayes returned after suspension for Barry Robson, who was on the bench.
Captain Russell Anderson was not risked on the FieldTurf surface at Rugby Park.
It meant another start for summer arrival Ashton Taylor in the centre of defence and a chance to make amends for the error which gifted Dundee United their first goal in the 3-0 loss to the Arabs at Pittodrie on Sunday.
FieldTurf? Don’t mention plastic. An artificial surface? Another banned phrase. Not grass then.
A significant advantage for the home side no matter the change of names, although light years away from the surfaces used by the likes of Preston North End and QPR back in the dark ages.
Deeply unpopular with some but good enough for Premiership and international rugby union and surely the future if the game is to develop along with player skills.
No mudbath and both sides were quick to accept their lot and get on with the business of trying to win a game of football.
After their Dundee United doing the Dons needed it more, Killie got their point from promoted Dundee on Saturday and should have opened the scoring after only 12 minutes.
Goalkeeper Craig Samson’s long, clearing kick bounced over Ashton to give former Don Josh Magennis a clear run on goal.
Jamie Langfield did well to parry his first effort and then even better to save the follow-up by the same player which has hit with venom and accuracy.
The Dons were not at their best but almost had the lead midway through the first half when Niall McGinn galloped down the right.
Defenders looked for support runners, on the Northern Irishman ran before shooting from the edge of the penalty area.
Too good for Samson, but not the cross bar and the shot bounded back off the woodwork and away to safety.
Hugely frustrating for the visiting support.
But at least the visitors were warming to their work, although Anderson’s distribution from defence was missed as much as his rugged defending, and Rooney was close to conjuring a goal from nothing with just four minutes remaining in the first half when he turned sharply and almost surprised Samson with a powerful shot the goalkeeper did well to save.
On the stroke of half-time though the Dons finally made their class count with Hayes breaking free down the middle and releasing Pawlett with the perfect pass.
The former Scotland under-21 international took one touch to control and a second to lash his shot past Samson and in off the cross bar for his first goal of the season.
A superb finish and a much-needed one. Something for Aberdeen to defend, Kilmarnock committed to attack, the perfect combination for McInnes’ men.
Manuel Pasquali flashed a head over the bar from Craig Slater’s free kick 10 minutes into the second half to Kilmarnock’s second-half intent and the Dons had a moment of fortune when Taylor claimed a foul from Magennis, eventually referee Crawford Allan agreed, but it was a nervous moment as Magennis strode free on goal.
The home side were warming to their task and after a sustained spell of pressure, not helped by Pawlett’s poor attempted clearance, Tope Obadeyi shot narrowly over the cross bar.
The Kilmarnock supporters are an angry bunch, and their mood was not improved as the Dons midfield started to weave pretty patterns although Considine should have done better than cross into Samson’s arms when free on the left on a rare foray forward.
The Dons would not be denied their second goal, however, and it was one of superb quality with Jack the instigator and finisher after winning possession in midfield, feeding Rooney and when McGinn crossed from the right, bursting past the Kilmarnock defence to head home from close range.
A fabulous goal for Aberdeen and a crucial two-goal cushion.
Kilmarnock rang the changes, but to no avail as the defence grew in confidence.
The home side had run out of ideas, and the win was
comfortably in the bag although Nicky Low, on as a late substitute, could have put the gloss on the win after breaking through the home side’s defence, but shot tamely straight at Samson.
McGinn then squandered a further chance as the game drifted into added time but no matter, job done and match won.