Aberdeen 0 Kilmarnock 1

Last updated : 03 December 2002 By Footymad Previewer

This appeared to be a dismal swan song for Ebbe Skovdahl as his side was booed off at the end of the match after going down 1-0 to a spirited Kilmarnock side.

To add insult to injury, the home support had to endure a truly awful 90 minutes with only ar Kevin RutkiewiczÂ' shot on target.

Aberdeen opened brightly and after eight minutes Phil McGuire rose above a static Killie defence, but he was unable to head Eric Deloumeaux's corner kick on target.

Killie ought to have taken the lead after 13 minutes when Gary McSwegan broke down the right, his cross in to the area was met by Andy McLaren, but he couldnÂ't get enough purchase on the ball and the chance was gone.

In the 25th minute a quick break by Scott Michie saw his cross eventually fall to Deloumeaux, but his fierce shot from 20 yards was charged down by Alan Mahood.

In the space of two minutes the away sideÂ's Garry Hay & Shaun Dillon were both yellow carded for reckless challenges on Darren Mackie and Laurent D'Jaffo.

With 58 minutes gone McSwegan got himself between Russell Anderson and Phil McGuire, but his low 15 yard shot was held by David Preece down to his left.

Deloumeaux's short free kick to Rutkiewicz saw the defenderÂ's hopeful ball into the area find Darren Mackie but he impeded Greg Sheilds and the chance was gone.

Skovdahl then introduced Scott Muirhead wide in the left in place of the ineffective Fergus Tiernan in a positive effort to get the crucial opening goal.

But in the 66th minute it was Killie who took a shock lead when McSwegan threaded a Peter Canero cross beyond the despairing Preece and into the net with no Dons defenders in attendance.

From then until the end of the game, and despite their best efforts, the Dons failed to conjure up any opportunities.

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