Aberdeen 0 Kilmarnock 0

Last updated : 28 February 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Aberdeen and Kilmarnock fought out a grim 0-0 encounter with entertaining football very much at a premium on a poor Pittodrie playing surface.

Both camps will be satisfied with a point, although the visitors, with far less possession, did create the better openings.

Indeed had Craig Bryson shown a little more composure midway though the second half when sent clear on goal, Killie would have recorded their first League win against Aberdeen this season.

The home side opened brightly and on nine minutes a Lee Miller flick found Chris Maguire who fed the ball wide to Sone Aluko. His left-foot cross was cut out by Bryson at the near post with Mark Kerr waiting to pounce.

The referee Douglas McDonald caused uproar on the visitors' bench on 13 minutes. Bryson seemed to be tumbled inside the area under the challenge of Lee Mair but controversially the referee decided to book the midfielder for taking a dive.

Aberdeen continued to dominate possession with full-back Javan Vidal picking the ball up 40 yards from goal. He played a neat one-two with Darren Mackie before he drove into the box firing just wide of the far post from 14 yards.

Minutes later Aberdeen did have the ball in the back of the net when Charlie Mulgrew's cross was turned home by Darren Mackie. However, the linesman correctly ruled the effort out for offside.

In the final minute of the first half the visitors broke swiftly with David Fernandez finding Kevin Kyle 12 yards out on the angle, but his weak right-foot shot was comfortably gathered by Jamie Langfield.

On 46 minutes Aberdeen were nearly caught out with a long ball straight down the middle which no-one wanted to deal with, until Mulgrew came round the back to clear.

Second-half sub Willie Gibson's deep cross from the left on 51 minutes was missed by everyone and eventually found its way through to Tim Clancy at the far post. His first touch was poor though allowing him to be crowded out much to the relief of the home back four.

The visitors' skipper Manuel Pascali played the ball up to David Fernandez who cleverly turned the ball into the path of Bryson, his right-foot shot came back off the upright with Langfield well-beaten.

On 83 minutes, as the home side continued to press, Scott Severin played the ball to Sone Aluko who took a touch before driving his shot well wide from 18 yards.

As the pressure continued on the Killie defence Aluko was picked out by Miller eight yards from goal. His first touch was good but his left-foot effort flew well over the bar.

In the last minute it was the home side who could have stolen all three points. Kerr picked up a loose ball in midfield before driving in his shot which was deflected wide for a fruitless corner.