Kilmarnock 0-1 Aberdeen: Steve Clarke's hosts go down to EIGHT men as Scott McKenna nets winning goal to boost Europa League prospects

  • A fiercely competitive game saw Kilmarnock finish a home game with eight men
  • Steve Clarke saw three players sent off in a 1-0 defeat against rivals Aberdeen
  • Kirk Broadfoot was first to go before Stuart Findlay and Rory McKenzie saw red
  • Scott McKenna got the only goal as Aberdeen boosted Europa League chances 

Scott McKenna was the Aberdeen goal hero as the Dons opened up a crucial three-point gap over Kilmarnock, who finished a fractious Ladbrokes Premiership encounter at Rugby Park with eight men.

Killie defender Kirk Broadfoot was shown a straight red card by referee Steven McLean in the 36th minute for catching Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis in the face with his boot.

The home side fell behind in the 66th minute when the Scotland defender headed in a Graeme Shinnie corner and then defender Stuart Findlay was sent packing for picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on the Pittodrie captain before midfielder Rory McKenzie was dismissed in added time.

Kirk Broadfoot was one of three Kilmarnock players to see red as they finished with eight men

Kirk Broadfoot was one of three Kilmarnock players to see red as they finished with eight men

Stuart Findlay was the next to go as the referee took a no-nonsense approach at Rugby Park

Stuart Findlay was the next to go as the referee took a no-nonsense approach at Rugby Park

It was a fractious 90 minutes which concluded with Rory McKenzie receiving a third red card

It was a fractious 90 minutes which concluded with Rory McKenzie receiving a third red card

Tensions between both sets of players boiled over as McKenzie saw red with players kept apart

Tensions between both sets of players boiled over as McKenzie saw red with players kept apart

It was not a game for the purists but the narrow win took Aberdeen into third place with four fixtures remaining and a Europa League place up for grabs.


Boss Derek McInnes welcomed captain Shinnie back from suspension but Lewis Ferguson was banned for his straight red card against Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final defeat last week.

Dominic Ball was eligible as he received two yellow cards at Hampden while Stephen Gleeson and Michael Devlin came back in.

One of the first major talking points came when Broadfoot made a challenge on Joe Lewis

One of the first major talking points came when Broadfoot made a challenge on Joe Lewis

Aberdeen's players were livid as the Kilmarnock defender made contact with the goalkeeper

Aberdeen's players were livid as the Kilmarnock defender made contact with the goalkeeper

Broadfoot was exasperated at his early dismissal as he showed his frustration while going off

Broadfoot was exasperated at his early dismissal as he showed his frustration while going off

Killie striker Eamonn Brophy returned from injury to replace Kris Boyd and in the eighth minute he forced Devlin into a yellow card tackle just over the halfway line as he attempted to race through on to a long ball.

The home fans howled for referee McLean to be less lenient, remembering the Dons stopper had been sent off earlier in the season for a similar foul on the same player.

It was all hustle and bustle, laced with plenty of niggle.

Aberdeen's burly striker Sam Cosgrove was cautioned for a foul on Killie skipper Gary Dicker and was let off for a foul soon afterwards on Findlay, who was booked for pushing the Dons player to the ground as they waited for McKenzie's free-kick to come in.

Broadfoot could not quite control the ball and went in on Lewis in a bid to recover it and with the Englishman left on the ground and requiring treatment, and players from both sides crowding around, McLean produced the red card. 

Aberdeen got a crucial breakthrough on 66 minutes with a bullet header from Scott McKenna

Aberdeen got a crucial breakthrough on 66 minutes with a bullet header from Scott McKenna 

The Scotland international was congratulated by team-mates after getting the opening goal

The Scotland international was congratulated by team-mates after getting the opening goal

Things soon got worse as Kilmarnock midfielder Findlay was sent off with six minutes left

Things soon got worse as Kilmarnock midfielder Findlay was sent off with six minutes left

The official was booed off by irate Killie fans at half-time.

Perhaps sensing Cosgrove may not finish the game, McInnes replaced him at the interval with James Wilson and soon afterwards McKenna and Kilmarnock defender Greg Taylor picked up yellows for their part in a goalmouth melee.

The Dons got themselves ahead in simple fashion, McKenna rising six yards out to head Shinnie's corner down on to the pitch and up into the net.

Killie responded and in the 73rd minute right-back Stephen O'Donnell broke the Aberdeen back line only to see his shot blocked by Ethan Ross for a corner, which came to nothing.

Then, with five minutes remaining, Findlay was shown a second yellow for a foul on Shinnie and to top it all off, McKenzie walked for a tussle with Ball.

It was that sort of game but one which in the end, favoured the Dons.

Findlay was rash and late on Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie and referee had no hesitation

Findlay was rash and late on Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie and referee had no hesitation

There was still enough time in the closing stages for McKenzie to see red after a brief exchange

There was still enough time in the closing stages for McKenzie to see red after a brief exchange

In the end it was the red of the away end that was left in Rugby Park to celebrate a huge win

In the end it was the red of the away end that was left in Rugby Park to celebrate a huge win