Kilmarnock ease past Aberdeen with stunning Boxing Day performance at Rugby Park

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Kilmarnock were able to provide plenty of festive cheer for their fans as they turned in their best performance of the season in a 4-0 home win over Aberdeen on Boxing Day.The win sees the Rugby Park side jump to within three points of the top six and extend their unbeaten run to four games.In a scintillating display against the Dons, they could have already been in front prior to Kyle Vassell bundling the ball home from close range on 18 minutes as the striker got on the end of a terrific Fraser Murray delivery.A string of saves from Dimitar Mitov kept the scoreline down prior to the break but the Bulgarian was beaten three times in the second half as Killie picked up the points.Danny Armstrong's ball into the box was met by David Watson just before the hour mark with substitutes Innes Cameron and Bruce Anderson rounding things off.

The former produced a delightful dink into the far corner before former Dons striker Anderson turned the ball home at the back post in injury-time.Derek McInnes elected to make three changes to the side that drew at Motherwell on Friday night with goalkeeper Robby McCrorie being recalled, while Armstrong returned to the starting line-up and Bobby Wales was given the nod up front alongside Vassell.Killie went into the game with the better form as Aberdeen had failed to win in their previous six games and it was the hosts who started the brighter.

A crucial interception from Angus MacDonald - making only his second league appearance of the campaign - prevented Vassell from being through on goal within 90 seconds.Neat play moments later saw Armstrong received the ball in space down the right flank.