Kris Boyd netted from the penalty spot to earn Kilmarnock a deserved Scottish Cup replay against a below-par Aberdeen.
Graeme Shinnie fired the Dons into an early lead when his low drive across goal evaded Jamie MacDonald.
But Killie levelled from the penalty spot with just over 20 minutes remaining through Boyd after Shay Logan had fouled Jordan Jones.
The match finished 1-1 and the sides will meet again at Rugby Park a week on Tuesday.
The Dons made three changes from the team that started last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Celtic.
Shinnie, Ryan Christie and Stevie May all returned with Gary Mackay-Steven, Chidi Nwakali and the suspended Andrew Considine dropping out.
Kilmarnock were deprived of the services of injured duo Youssouf Mulumbu and Gordon Greer but Boyd and Eamonn Brophy both started after passing late fitness tests.
There was a worrying moment for Killie defender Stuart Findlay when his sliced clearance hurtled towards his own goal but visiting goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald was alert to the danger.
However MacDonald wasn’t nearly as assured when the Dons opened the scoring after nine minutes.
Shinnie collected the ball from Christie on the left flank and looked to fire the ball across goal. It looked more like a cross than a shot but MacDonald got his angles wrong and the ball flew into the far corner of the net.
Kenny McLean tried his luck from distance after 18 yards before Kilmarnock had a loud claim for a penalty when Brophy tumbled after going past Christie but referee Steven McLean waved away the appeals.
Kari Arnason hooked over from a Niall McGinn corner as the Dons pushed for a second before Adam Rooney was thwarted by a desperate saving challenge from Rory McKenzie .
The visitors went close twice before the break with a Boyd header from a McKenzie corner superbly clawed over by Freddie Woodman and from the resulting corner an even better chance fell to the Killie forward but he lashed his volley over the crossbar.
Clarke’s side made a determined start to the second period with Woodman called into action early on to keep out Boyd’s glancing header.
MacDonald was tested at the other end soon after and made a superb stop to keep out Arnason’s header from a McGinn free kick.
Jordan Jones had enjoyed a quiet afternoon but the Killie winger came to life in the 61st minute, cutting inside before unleashing a thunderous shot from 35 yards that whistled over.
The pressure from the visitors was building and they got their reward after 68 minutes when referee McLean pointed to the spot after Shay Logan tripped Jones.
Boyd smashed home the spot-kick before revelling in his celebrations in front of the Aberdeen support.
Killie remained on top after the equaliser with Boyd drilling wide with his weaker left foot as the natives grew restless.
Rooney went close for the Dons late on but his header was too close to MacDonald but there was to be no more scoring and the sides will do it all again at Rugby Park.