David Watson's stunning late strike gave Kilmarnock a first win away from home in the league
Manager Barry Robson says he remains "confident" he can improve Aberdeen's poor Scottish Premiership form as Kilmarnock's first away win of the season left his side second bottom of the table.
After a drab opening 91 minutes in which both sides struggled to create chances, David Watson produced a moment of magic to control a cross before slamming the ball beyond Kelle Ross into the far corner.
The goal almost emptied an already sparse Pittodrie, and those who remained watched their side extend their winless run to four league games, having won just three of their 14 league matches overall.
"I'm confident, of course I am," Robson told BBC Scotland. "I've been in a lot of difficult situations throughout my career. And as I said to the players, you stand up and fight and run for your club. And they'll do that."
Asked how he aims to turn things around, the Aberdeen bossed added: "By winning games. That's the only way and that's what we'll aim to do.
"We'll be in tomorrow, we'll go through things we didn't do so well tonight."
Kilmarnock ecstatically celebrated their first Premiership win on the road this season at the eighth attempt, and only their third in 27 away games since promotion 18 months ago.
Victory pushes Derek McInnes' side above Dundee into the top six as they proved the side able to produce the crucial moment in a game of few chances.
Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski had the ball in the net before the break but his effort was ruled out for offside, and Duk's close-range header could not beat Will Dennis in the Kilmarnock goal.
Kilmarnock's best chances before the goal also came from corners, but Liam Donnelly's powerful header was tipped over the crossbar by Roos, and then five minutes from the end Stuart Findlay nodded wide.
That seemed like the visitors' opportunity to snatch a big win, but their best move of the match yielded the crucial goal.
Substitute Matty Kennedy did brilliantly to work space for a cross down the left, and Watson's touch and finish from inside the box was of the highest quality.
- Keep up to date with AberdeenThe latest Kilmarnock news
Player of the match - David WatsonWatson gets it for his moment of magic, and his industrious midfield dispplayGame-changing Killie win, Aberdeen fall flat - analysis
This victory could be game-changing for Kilmarnock. Ever since their promotion in 2022, they have toiled on the road. McInnes has tried everything to arrest things, but almost seemed at a loss as to why his side could not do it away from Rugby Park, where they are so strong.
But the former Aberdeen boss mentioned pre-match that despite the winless run this season, things felt different. He likes the depth of his squad and the added quality on the bench. Kennedy, who was at Aberdeen last season, made a difference and his skill down the left teed up Watson, who did the rest.
It was not a vintage performance but it was exactly what McInnes will want from his team away from home, as they were difficult to break down and took their chance when it mattered.
As for Aberdeen, this will raise more questions of Robson. The Aberdeen boss has understandably pointed to the fact seven of their last eight games in all competitions have been away from home as mitigation for their poor form, but this was the first of five winnable home league games this month and they fell flat.
They managed to be both ponderous and slow with the ball at times, while also rushing it forward without any composure at other moments. He waited until 75 minutes to make substitutions and change formation from five to four at the back, which did have some effect but ultimately did not pay off.
The stats will give those in charge at the club plenty of food for thought. Three league wins from 14 games. Just four clean sheets in 24 matches. Two wins in the last 12 games in all competitions. One home win all season. None of that can continue at a club with aspirations of repeating their third-place finish of last season.
What they said
Aberdeen manager Barry Robson: "It was disappointing, frustrated. We had lots of possession and huffed and puffed but never cut Kilmarnock open.."
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "Any time you come to Pittodrie and get a result as an away team you have to do a lot of things right. We were competitive throughout, we went for an aggressive team, we had good ball winners in the middle of the park.
"I thought in the turnovers we had good moments to counter. We had some good moments and chances. I thought Stuart Findlay's chance with five minutes to go and he just failed to hit the target. But it's a real moment of quality that separates the teams."
What's next?
Aberdeen host Hearts on Saturday in what feels like a huge game for Robson (15:00 GMT), while Kilmarnock are at home to Celtic on Sunday (12:00).
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsAberdeen
Formation 3-5-2
24Roos6Gartenmann27MacDonald5Jensen2Devlin7McGrath10Clarkson4Shinnie17Hayes9Miovski11Henriques de Barros Lopes
- 24Roos6GartenmannBooked at 82mins27MacDonaldSubstituted forMcGarryat 76'minutes5Jensen2Devlin7McGrath10Clarkson4ShinnieBooked at 44mins17HayesBooked at 65mins9Miovski11Henriques de Barros LopesSubstituted forMorrisat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Barron15McGarry19Sokler20Morris21Polvara23Duncan28Milne31Doohan33Rubezic
Kilmarnock
Formation 3-5-2
1Dennis5Mayo6Deas17Findlay11Armstrong12Watson22Donnelly8Lyons3Ndaba23Watkins9Vassell
- 1Dennis5Mayo6Deas17Findlay11Armstrong12Watson22DonnellySubstituted forPolworthat 73'minutes8LyonsSubstituted forMcKenzieat 60'minutesBooked at 86mins3Ndaba23WatkinsSubstituted forKennedyat 82'minutes9Vassell
Substitutes
- 7McKenzie10Kennedy14Sanders15Murray19Davies20O'Hara21Dallas31Polworth39Mackay-Steven
Referee:Matthew MacDermidAttendance:13,668Match StatsHome TeamAberdeenAway TeamKilmarnockPossessionHome64%Away36%ShotsHome18Away8Shots on TargetHome3Away2CornersHome4Away5FoulsHome11Away21Live Text Post update
Match ends, Aberdeen 0, Kilmarnock 1.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 0, Kilmarnock 1.
90'+4'Post update
Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
90'+2'goalGoal!
Goal! Aberdeen 0, Kilmarnock 1. David Watson (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Matthew Kennedy with a cross.
89'Post update
Attempt saved. Richard Jensen (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonny Hayes with a cross.
88'Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Corrie Ndaba.
87'Post update
Attempt missed. Stuart Findlay (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Daniel Armstrong with a cross following a corner.
87'Post update
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by James McGarry.
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Richard Jensen (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Leighton Clarkson with a cross following a set piece situation.
86'Booking
Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
86'Post update
Shayden Morris (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86'Post update
Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
85'Post update
James McGarry (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'Post update
Foul by Kyle Vassell (Kilmarnock).
83'Post update
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'Post update
Foul by Robbie Deas (Kilmarnock).
82'Booking
Stefan Gartenmann (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
82'Post update
Foul by Stefan Gartenmann (Aberdeen).
82'Post update
Kyle Vassell (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Player of the match
MayoLewis Mayo
with an average of 7.75
- AberdeenAberdeenAberdeenKilmarnockKilmarnockKilmarnock
AberdeenAvgSquad number27Player nameMacDonaldAverage rating
4.40
Squad number24Player nameRoosAverage rating
4.02
Squad number2Player nameDevlinAverage rating
3.82
Squad number9Player nameMiovskiAverage rating
3.76
Squad number11Player nameDukAverage rating
3.74
Squad number7Player nameMcGrathAverage rating
3.73
Squad number10Player nameClarksonAverage rating
3.65
Squad number6Player nameGartenmannAverage rating
3.48
Squad number5Player nameJensenAverage rating
3.44
Squad number4Player nameShinnieAverage rating
3.40
Squad number17Player nameHayesAverage rating
3.32
Squad number20Player nameMorrisAverage rating
2.89
Squad number15Player nameMcGarryAverage rating
2.82
KilmarnockAvgSquad number5Player nameMayoAverage rating
7.75
Squad number12Player nameWatsonAverage rating
7.55
Squad number9Player nameVassellAverage rating
6.95
Squad number7Player nameMcKenzieAverage rating
6.73
Squad number17Player nameFindlayAverage rating
6.73
Squad number31Player namePolworthAverage rating
6.72
Squad number1Player nameDennisAverage rating
6.41
Squad number11Player nameArmstrongAverage rating
6.13
Squad number10Player nameKennedyAverage rating
6.04
Squad number22Player nameDonnellyAverage rating
6.03
Squad number6Player nameDeasAverage rating
5.94
Squad number8Player nameLyonsAverage rating
5.77
Squad number23Player nameWatkinsAverage rating
5.67
Squad number3Player nameNdabaAverage rating
5.63
Source: bbc.com