Kilmarnock 0-2 Aberdeen: Hedges and Cosgrove seal points

The first half was a real physical battle as both teams struggled to assert themselves in possession. Joe Lewis could have had an assist within three minutes, when Connor McLennan took advantage of a lapse in concentration in the home defence, but he snatched at his shot and sent it wide. McInnes vocally encouraged Ryan Hedges to be more direct after he passed up a clear shot soon after to slide in a team-mate.

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The decision making from both sides left much to be desired. And while Aberdeen started to enjoy more of the ball as the half wore on, they were all too often let down by indecision and a poor end product in and around the box. Kilmarnock’s Greg Kiltie nearly converted a ball flashed across the face of goal and Curtis Main fluffed his lines when in behind just before the interval in a half that could boast no meaningful shots on target.

McInnes responded at half-time to his side’s poor distribution from the back by introducing Dean Campbell and moving Ross McCrorie into the back three. And although the home side were marginally improved after the break the Dons took the lead in the 52nd minute. Hedges picked the ball up in the pocket and drove at the defence before unleashing a shot from outside the area which evaded Danny Rodgers curtesy of a Stuart Findley deflection. It was from a similar area that he had opted not to pull the trigger from in the first half.

Hedges’ goal pleased his manager, who wants the forward to add more goals to his game.

“We’ve got some good attacking players here and we want them to try to express themselves and get their numbers up,” he said after the match.

“When you get into good areas you have got to have the wherewithal to take on those shots. I’d rather the shot doesn’t come up because we are trying to do the right thing and be positive.

“Hedges in particular is one we think can get his numbers up. He picked the ball up in a good area, drove at their back lot and got his shot away.

“It wasn’t perfect but I thought every one of them stood up and battled and it is another good 2-0 victory on the back of last weekend.”

The goal forced the hosts forward and they had their best spell of the match. Main was quiet offensively but crucial at the other end when he took the ball off the head of Nicke Kabamba just as the forward thought he had an empty net to head into at the far post. The visitors should have doubled their lead late on when substitute Sam Cosgrove was found by the influential Hedges inside the box, but his effort from close range was saved expertly by Danny Rodgers.

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The hosts threw everything forward as they chased a goal and almost drew level through Eamonn Brophy from 25 yards. But the space they vacated was exposed when Cosgrove beat the offside trap and Brandon Haunstrup fouled him cynically, and ultimately needlessly, at the edge of the area, receiving a red card for his troubles. Cosgrove ended up getting a goal as well as taking a man, firing home the resulting free-kick from 18 yards with the last kick of the game.

In light of the defeat, Dyer looked ahead to a busy run of festive fixtures as his side aim to move up the table, he said: “It’s a big run coming up, we need to pick up points in these games. If we don’t we are in trouble.

“A busy run is good if you are winning, but when you are not it’s not. 

“They come thick and fast, so if you don’t have time to settle and have a chat with the lads and train then it’s not ideal. 

“If we do pick up results then we can turn our season around a little bit. A busy run is good if you are winning, but when you are not it’s not.”