Aberdeen 2-1 Kilmarnock

Nicholson drew the game level with a penalty kick

Aberdeen battled back from a goal down to snatch maximum points at Pittodrie as Kilmarnock slipped down to tenth spot in the SPL table.

Killie's David Fernandez netted on 27 minutes when he steered a header home from Frazer Wright's excellent cross.

Barry Nicholson levelled from the penalty spot after Lee Miller tumbled following a Ryan O'Leary challenge.

And striker Miller won the game with a header on 75 minutes after a good run and cross from Derek Young.

Interview: Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood

Interview: Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies

It was the second victory in a row for the Dons and once again they rallied after losing the first goal.

Nicholson fired the ball just past Alan Combe's near post as the home side started strongly.

But Aberdeen defender Lee Mair was fortunate in the 16th minute when he appeared to bring down Colin Nish just inside the 18-yard-box.

Referee Collum waived play on, much to the frustration of the Kilmarnock management team.

The visitors' mood improved dramatically, though, when Fernandez met Fowler's cross to score with a neat header.

Combe was called into action eight minutes before the interval as Aberdeen threatened again, with a Chris Maguire shot flicked up into the air by the Kilmarnock keeper and cleared by Jamie Hamill.

Miller then tried to turn in a cross from Richard Foster but was denied by Combe, who could only watch on as Wright's later clearance carried just over his own crossbar.

Kilmarnock continued to look resolute at the back after the break but, out of nothing, the Dons were gifted an equaliser as O'Leary tangled with Miller and Nicholson tucked away the spot-kick.

Buoyed by that goal, Aberdeen pushed forward and when Michael Hart advanced unchallenged, he passed to Young and from the midfielder's delivery, Miller powered in a close-range header.

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Aberdeen: Langfield, Hart, Mair, Byrne, Foster, Young, Nicholson, Clark, Aluko (Lovell 46), Miller, Maguire (Severin 46).Subs Not Used: Soutar, Considine, Jonathan Smith, Paton, Stuart Smith.

Booked: Miller.

Goals: Nicholson 63 pen, Miller 75. Kilmarnock: Combe, Hamill, Wright (Gibson 65), O'Leary, Clancy, Invincibile (Jarvis 64), Fowler, Taouil, Wales, Nish, Fernandez. Subs Not Used: Harpur, Locke, Koudou, Bryson, Flannigan.

Booked: Clancy, Fowler, Taouil.

Goal: Fernandez 27.

Att: 10,207

Ref: W Collum