Aberdeen 4-1 Kilmarnock: Derek McInnes suffers heavy defeat on Pittodrie return

There was no happy return to Pittodrie for former manager Derek McInnes as Aberdeen thrashed Kilmarnock to win a third consecutive Premiership home match by scoring four or more goals.

Another former Don, Ash Taylor, pulled one back for the visitors.

Miovski scored again before Anthony Stewart headed in a fourth.

It means Aberdeen are now unbeaten in 12 games against Kilmarnock as they rise up to fifth in the table.

Kilmarnock remain second bottom after their fifth league defeat in six games.

• Reaction & as it happened

There was a good tempo to the game from the start and and it was Aberdeen who struck first. Jonny Hayes was the catalyst, his strong run and cross from from the left met awkwardly by Taylor and the centre-back could only deflect the ball towards the middle of the penalty box.

Besuijen was first to the ball to strike it past goalkeeper Zach Hemming with 22 minutes gone.

Aberdeen had scored first in their previous two league games but had only secured a point from both, yet they doubled their lead two minutes later.

Marley Watkins' initial cross was blocked by Hemming, whose attempted follow up caught Miovski for a spot kick. The striker calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a left-foot effort.

Kilmarnock pulled one back from nowhere. Taylor found space in the penalty area and guided a header into the corner of the net just three minutes after falling two goals down.

Home goalkeeper Kelle Ross acrobatically denied Liam Polworth from 25 yards, but Aberdeen soon restored their two-goal advantage.

Miovski pounced as Joe Wright stumbled to clear after the ball had evaded his goalkeeper, the striker calmly lifting a shot over the prostrate defender for his second.

McInnes lost only once to Kilmarnock when he was Aberdeen manager and he was left with a familiar feeling of his predecessors in the away dugout as Aberdeen sealed the game on 63 minutes.

Hayes supplied the corner into the area and centre-half Stewart netted for the first time for the Dons.

Player of the Match - Bojan Miovski

Contrasting fortunes in front of goal - analysis

Manager Jim Goodwin will again be pleased with the way his side took their chances on home soil. Aberdeen, who scored 25 Premiership goals in 19 home games last season, have already netted on 15 occasions this campaign after just four.

Aberdeen's sitting midfield players gave the trio ahead of them, Hayes, Besuijen and Matty Kennedy, the freedom to move play quickly and stretch the visiting defence.

Away form will be a concern for McInnes. Five trips away from Rugby Park have yielded no points and just a single goal.

Kilmarnock will be disappointed in the way that they conceded the goals. Both Taylor and Wright were unable to clear danger while Hemming got caught up after an initial save and conceded a penalty.

What they said

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin: "We were quite convincing in the whole 90 minutes. Overall, I am really satisfied with the performance of every player. It's always huge the next game after a defeat. Firstly, it is important you don't lose and secondly you put on the kind of display we put on today.

"I thought we were very good and well worth the victory."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "Disappointing afternoon, I felt the type of goals we lost is nothing really to do with the level we've come up and I felt we were disappointed with each and every one of them.

"We spoke often enough all week about the threat of Aberdeen on the counter attack. They have a lot of quick players and they can go from box to box pretty quickly and ask the question of you. I just thought we allowed ourselves to be countered."

What's Next

Aberdeen travel to Tannadice to face bottom side Dundee United in the Premiership next Saturday (18:00 BST). Kilmarnock are in action on Wednesday at home to St Johnstone (19:45) before hosting Hearts on Sunday (15:00).